A Novel Non‑Cyanide Dried Cassava Mash (DCM) as a Potential Functional Food Ingredient: Immunomodulatory Activity and Subacute Toxicity Assessment

-
Cassava is a major food crop for over 800 million people worldwide, but it contains natural toxins (cyanogenic glycosides) and is often viewed as only a source of calories. In this study, we produced a specially processed, cyanide‑free dried cassava mash (DCM) and tested whether it could safely improve immune function. We found that DCM contained no detectable cyanide, no harmful bacteria or heavy metals, and met all food safety standards. When given to mice for 8 days, DCM increased the number of immune cells in the spleen (a key immune organ) by 15% and enhanced the production of two important immune messengers – IL‑2 and IFN‑γ – which help the body fight viruses and other intracellular pathogens. Importantly, it did not cause unwanted allergic or immunosuppressive responses. A separate 28‑day safety study in rats showed no adverse effects on body weight, blood cells, liver, or kidneys, even at high doses. These results suggest that properly processed cassava can be more than just a source of energy – it may act as a low‑cost, safe, functional food that supports the immune system. This could be particularly valuable in food‑insecure regions where cassava is a dietary staple and infectious diseases are common. Keywords: Cassava, functional food, immune support, Th1 response, food safety Journal: Applied Food Research Manuscript ID: AFRES‑D‑26‑00147R2 (accepted)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Certain Conventional Weapons used in Sudan Civil War

-
The conflict in Sudan, particularly the ongoing war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has involved the use of various conventional weapons, including both light and heavy arms. Here are some of the key weapons reported in the conflict: 1. Small Arms & Light Weapons (SALW) AK-47/AKM assault rifles – Widely used by both SAF and RSF fighters. PKM machine guns – Common among infantry and mounted on vehicles. RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenades – Used against vehicles and fortified positions. DShK heavy machine guns – Mounted on technicals (improvised fighting vehicles). Sniper rifles (e.g., Dragunov SVD) – Used for long-range engagements. 2. Heavy Weapons & Artillery Mortars (82mm & 120mm) – Frequently used in urban and rural combat. BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers – Employed for indirect bombardment. Howitzers (e.g., D-30 122mm) – Used by SAF for artillery strikes. ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns – Often repurposed for ground atta...
Read more

Toxic Chemicals of Biological Origin: A Synthetic Biology Perspective

-
1.1 Introduction to Bioengineered Toxins Toxins represent a diverse class of biologically derived poisonous substances that have been weaponized throughout history. From a synthetic biology standpoint, these molecules offer both challenges and opportunities as we examine them through the lens of programmable biological systems. Modern synthetic biology approaches allow us to: Decouple toxin production from native organisms through heterologous expression systems Engineer novel toxin variants with tailored properties Develop precisely controlled delivery mechanisms Create orthogonal detection and countermeasure systems 1.2 Ricin: From Natural Product to Engineered Bioweapon 1.2.1 Synthetic Production Systems Ricin's glycoprotein structure (64 kDa) makes it an ideal candidate for recombinant production. Current synthetic biology approaches include: Expression Platforms: Yeast (Pichia pastoris) systems for eukaryotic glycosylation Cell-free protein synthesis for rapid prototy...
Read more

Center for Countermeasures against Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents Statement on U.S. Executive Order Imposing Sanctions on ICC

-
The Technical Secretariat of the Center for Countermeasures against Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents align with the statement issued by the European Union on the U.S executive Order imposing Sanction on the International Criminal Court. The sanctions impose by the United State of America on the International Criminal Court will bring a setback to the United Nation office for disarmament Affairs, as most of the treaty that ban the use of Weapon of Mass Destruction are against war crimes, genocide and human right violation. The Weapons of Mass destruction are tools used to perpetrate these crimes which is against International Humanitarian Law. The United State of America has been the pivot and one of the major founders of the ICC for the years dated back as 1919 proposed during the Paris Peace Conference after the first World War by the Commission of Responsibilities, which United State is part of this Organ. In 1937 Geneva Conference, under the auspicious of the League of Nation ...
Read more