January 2012

Nanotechnology: Safety paradigms

The versatile utilization of nanotechnology in a variety of products used in different spheres of daily life has made it quite popular. This is attributed due to the enhanced surface related properties of the nanoparticles. But these enhanced properties also make nanoparticles, biologically more active leading to unexpected and unanticipated consequences on interaction with biological systems which may be deleterious to...

Author(s): Ishan Das Rastogi,

January 2012

Mycotoxins in animals: Occurrence, effects, prevention and management

Globalization of the trade in agricultural commodities has contributed significantly to the discussion about potential hazards involved and has increased in particular the awareness of mycotoxins. Safety awareness in food and feed production has also risen due to the simple fact that methods for testing residues and undesirable substances have become noticeably more sophisticated and more available at all points of the...

Author(s): Manal M. Zaki, S. A. El-Midany, H. M. Shaheen and Laura Rizzi

January 2012

Biochemical aspects and formation of phenolic compounds by coir pith degraded by Pleurotus sajor caju

Coir pith is a byproduct of fibre extraction from coconut husk. Coir pith has been produced in large quantities and is dumped as waste as its bulk at the production site itself and disposal efforts are in vain owing to the quantity. Several biological, biochemical and microbial methods have been tried and are underway to degrade the coir pith into useful product. A basidiomycete fungus viz.  Pleurotus...

Author(s): Abesh Reghuvaran and Anita Das Ravindranath