Contents of mercury were determined using AAS method (instrument AMA-254) in 64 fruiting body samples of 15 edible mushroom species. The mushrooms were collected from a forest nearby a reservoir Skalka. The highest mercury accumulation was observed in a sample of Boletus edulis (15.5 mg/ kg dry matter). Mercury contents were highly comparable with concentrations observed in unpolluted sites. It can be therefore concluded that mercury contents in mushroom from the observed area do not represent any health risk.

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One of the main nutrient deficiencies in Guatemala is vitamin A, mainly in pregnant women and children under the age of five. The consumption of plant material can improve vitamin A ingestion levels. It is necessary to research consumption frequency and preparation methods of the most commonly available plant materials, as well as the vitamin A content of these plant materials. This research took place in San Juan Ermita, Chiquimula in the communities of Chancó, Corral de Piedra, and Salitrón. The results demonstrated that the most commonly consumed plant material preparations were mulberry soup, chatate soup, toasted maize soup, chipilin soup, ayote soup, amaranth soup, and loroco turnovers.

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Today's development of novel vaccines stresses the need for edible vaccines that are inexpensive, easily administered and capable of being stored and transported without refrigeration. Without these characteristics, developing countries find it difficult to adopt vaccination as the central strategy for preventing their most devastating diseases. A promising approach is the production of vaccines in plants we commonly consume. Two major obstacles have been encountered in developing vaccines in plants. First, the expression level of foreign antigens tends to be low and second, co-expression of an adjuvant may be required to facilitate an appropriate immune response. Ricin, a plant toxin that survives the human digestive process, has been proven to stimulate an immune response and could therefore serve as a suitable adjuvant. The long-term goal is to produce a vaccine that protects against the disease entamoebic dysentery. The specific goal of this research was to produce ricin in tobacco as adjuvant for the vaccine. Vectors were constructed that fused the ricin coding sequence to different plant promoters and transgenic tobacco plants were generated by transformation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The levels of expression in these transgenic plants were tested using immunoblot assays. Southern blot analysis was performed for the highest expressors of each construct. The enzymatic activity of the tobacco-synthesized ricin was shown using a protein translation inhibition assay. Expression of ricin was also confirmed using transient transformation of hairy root cultures. Future experiments will address the practical use of the tobacco-synthesized ricin as adjuvant, as well as the expression of the ricin B subunit fused to a protective antigen of Entamoeba histolytica in tobacco as edible vaccine. / Master of Science

Yeung Ming. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-162). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / THESIS COMMITTEE --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.ii / ABSTRACT (ENGLISH) --- p.iii~v / ABSTRACT (CHINESE) --- p.vi~vii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.viii~xiii / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xiv~xv / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xvi~xviii / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.xix~xx / Chapter CHAPTER ONE: --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Different lipoproteins and their functions --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Chylomicrons --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- VLDL --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- LDL --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- HDL --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2 --- Risk factors of coronary heart disease (CHD) --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Background information of CHD --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- "Relationship between serum total cholesterol (TC), Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and CHD" --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and CHD --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Triglyceride and CHD --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3 --- Cholesterol homeostasis --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Roles of HMG-CoA reductase in cholesterol biosynthesis --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Roles of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A) in cholesterol catabolism…… --- p.15 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Effects of Short-Chain Fatty Acid (SCFA) --- p.17 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Related hormone --- p.18 / Chapter 1.4 --- Possible mechanisms of hypolipidemic agents --- p.19 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Hypolipidemic functional foods --- p.20 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Pharmacological drugs --- p.26 / Chapter 1.5 --- Edible and medicinal mushrooms --- p.28 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- General introduction --- p.28 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Hypolipidemic agents from Fungi --- p.31 / Chapter 1.6 --- Animal model --- p.35 / Chapter 1.7 --- Objectives --- p.36 / Chapter CHAPTER TWO: --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.37 / Chapter 2.1 --- Materials --- p.37 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Mushroom samples and control --- p.37 / Chapter 2.1.1.1 --- Sample introduction --- p.37 / Chapter 2.1.1.2 --- Sample collection --- p.40 / Chapter 2.1.1.3 --- Sample preparation --- p.41 / Chapter 2.1.1.4 --- Moisture content --- p.45 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Animal diets for different experiments --- p.45 / Chapter 2.1.2.1 --- Basal diet --- p.45 / Chapter 2.1.2.2 --- Diet for preliminary screening --- p.46 / Chapter 2.1.2.3 --- Diet for dosage experiment --- p.46 / Chapter 2.1.2.4 --- Diet for active ingredient experiments --- p.47 / Chapter 2.1.2.5 --- Diet for long-term feeding experiment --- p.47 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Animal model --- p.49 / Chapter 2.2 --- Methods --- p.49 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Nutritional components of mushroom samples --- p.49 / Chapter 2.2.1.1 --- Crude protein content (Kjeldahl method) --- p.49 / Chapter 2.2.1.2 --- Total dietary fiber content --- p.50 / Chapter 2.2.1.3 --- Crude lipid content --- p.52 / Chapter 2.2.1.4 --- Ash content --- p.53 / Chapter 2.2.1.5 --- Moisture content --- p.53 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Animal handling experiments --- p.54 / Chapter 2.2.2.1 --- Feeding experiment standards --- p.54 / Chapter 2.2.2.1.1 --- Feeding experiments of preliminary screening test --- p.54 / Chapter 2.2.2.1.2 --- Feeding experiments of dosage test --- p.55 / Chapter 2.2.2.1.3 --- Feeding experiments of solvent extracts from Agrocybe aegerita (Brig) Sing (AA) --- p.56 / Chapter 2.2.2.1.3.1 --- Fractionation of ethanol & water soluble components of AA --- p.56 / Chapter 2.2.2.1.3.2 --- Feeding experiments of ethanol & water soluble components of AA --- p.57 / Chapter 2.2.2.1.4 --- Feeding experiment of long-term test --- p.58 / Chapter 2.2.2.2 --- Blood sample collection --- p.58 / Chapter 2.2.2.3 --- Serum preparation --- p.58 / Chapter 2.2.2.4 --- Liver sample preparation --- p.58 / Chapter 2.2.2.5 --- Fecal sample preparation --- p.59 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Determination of serum lipid profiles --- p.59 / Chapter 2.2.3.1 --- Serum total cholesterol (TC) assay --- p.59 / Chapter 2.2.3.2 --- Serum triglyceride (TG) assay --- p.60 / Chapter 2.2.3.3 --- Serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol assay --- p.61 / Chapter 2.2.3.3.1 --- Separation of HDL fraction --- p.61 / Chapter 2.2.3.3.2 --- HDL cholesterol (HDL-c) determination --- p.61 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Determination of liver lipid profiles --- p.62 / Chapter 2.2.4.1 --- Liver total cholesterol (TC) level determination --- p.62 / Chapter 2.2.4.2 --- Determination of liver total lipid (TL) level --- p.64 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Quantitative determination of fecal neutral & acidic sterols --- p.64 / Chapter 2.2.5.1 --- Separation of fecal neutral & acidic sterols --- p.64 / Chapter 2.2.5.2 --- Derivatisation of fecal neutral sterols --- p.65 / Chapter 2.2.5.3 --- Derivatisation of fecal acidic sterols --- p.65 / Chapter 2.2.5.4 --- Gas chromatographic analysis of fecal neutral & acidic sterols --- p.66 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Assays of liver key enzymes in cholesterol metabolism --- p.67 / Chapter 2.2.6.1 --- Preparation of hepatic microsome --- p.67 / Chapter 2.2.6.2 --- Assay of HMG-CoA reductase activity --- p.68 / Chapter 2.2.6.3 --- Assay of CYP7A activity --- p.69 / Chapter 2.3 --- Data statistics --- p.71 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE: --- RESULTS AND DISCUSSION --- p.72 / Chapter 3.1 --- Preliminary screening of eleven mushrooms for their hypolipidemic effect in hyperlipidemic S.D. rats --- p.72 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Body weight and food intake --- p.73 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Effect of mushroom supplementation on serum lipid profiles --- p.75 / Chapter 3.1.2.1. --- Effect of mushroom supplementation on serum TC levels --- p.75 / Chapter 3.1.2.2. --- Effect of mushroom supplementation on serum TG levels --- p.77 / Chapter 3.1.2.3. --- Effect of mushroom supplementation on serum HDL levels --- p.79 / Chapter 3.1.2.4 --- Discussion of serum lipid profiles of S.D. rats fed M.S. diets in mushroom screening experiments --- p.83 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Effect and discussion of mushroom supplementation on hepatic lipid profiles --- p.84 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Effect and discussion of mushroom supplementation on fecal neutral sterol excretion --- p.87 / Chapter 3.1.5 --- Summary (mushroom screening experiments) --- p.90 / Chapter 3.2 --- Hypolipidemic effect of Agrocybe aegerita (Brig.) Sing (AA) in a dose response study in hyperlipidemic S.D. rats --- p.91 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Nutritional composition of AA mushroom --- p.91 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Body weight and food intake --- p.91 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Effect of three different dosages of AA mushroom supplementation on blood lipid profiles of S.D. rats --- p.93 / Chapter 3.2.3.1 --- Effect of different dosages of AA mushroom supplementation diets on serum TC level --- p.93 / Chapter 3.2.3.2 --- Effect of different dosages of AA mushroom supplementation diets on serum TG level --- p.93 / Chapter 3.2.3.3 --- Effect of different dosages of AA mushroom supplementation diets on serum HDL level --- p.95 / Chapter 3.2.3.4 --- Discussion of different dosages of AA mushroom supplementation diets on serum lipid profiles --- p.97 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Effect and discussion of three different dosages of AA mushroom supplementation on hepatic lipid profiles --- p.98 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Effect and discussion of three different dosages of AA mushroom supplementation on fecal neutral & acidic sterol excretion --- p.101 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Summary (dose response study) --- p.105 / Chapter 3.3 --- Hypolipidemic effect of ethanol extract (E.E.) & water extract (W.E.) from AA in hyperlipidemic S.D. rats --- p.106 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Extraction yield --- p.106 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Body weight & food intake --- p.106 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Effect of AA extract supplementation on serum lipid profiles --- p.107 / Chapter 3.3.3.1 --- Effect of AA extract supplementation on serum TC level --- p.107 / Chapter 3.3.3.2 --- Effect of AA extract supplementation on serum TG level --- p.108 / Chapter 3.3.3.3 --- Effect of AA extract supplementation on serum HDL level --- p.109 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Effect of AA extract supplementation on hepatic lipid profiles --- p.111 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Effect of AA extract supplementation on fecal neutral & acidic sterols excretion --- p.111 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- Discussion (active fraction extract study) --- p.113 / Chapter 3.4 --- Long-term evaluation of the hypolipidemic effect of AA supplementation in normolipic S.D. rats --- p.116 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Body weight & food intake --- p.116 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Effect of long term AA supplementation on serum lipid profiles --- p.117 / Chapter 3.4.2.1 --- Effect of long term AA supplementation on serum TC level --- p.117 / Chapter 3.4.2.2 --- Effect of long term AA supplementation on serum TG level --- p.118 / Chapter 3.4.2.3 --- Effect of long term AA supplementation on serum HDL level --- p.119 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Effect of long term AA supplementation on hepatic lipid profiles --- p.119 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Effect of long term AA supplementation on fecal neutral & acidic sterols excretion --- p.121 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Effect of long term AA supplementation on hepatic key enzymes of cholesterol metabolism ´ؤ HMG-CoA reductase and CYP7A --- p.123 / Chapter 3.4.5.1 --- Quantitation of hepatic microsomal protein --- p.123 / Chapter 3.4.5.2 --- Effect of long term AA supplementation on HMG-CoA reductase activity in S.D. rats --- p.124 / Chapter 3.4.5.3 --- Effect of long term AA supplementation on CYP7A activity in S.D. rats --- p.124 / Chapter 3.4.7 --- Discussion (long-term study) --- p.126 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR: --- CONCLUSION AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES --- p.130 / References --- p.136

Confessions of a Forager is a chronicle of Lauren Hudgins's adventures and mistakes while searching and eating wild food, and a questioning her vegetarian morals. Readers visit organized foraging projects through the Wild Food Adventures of expert John Kallas, the Mushroom Gathering at Breitenbush hot springs, and the Portland Fruit Tree Project, which turns a wasted bounty into an opportunity for public nourishment. Memoir sections of the thesis examine how food-related habits are passed down from parent to child, exploring the family's foraging history through perspective of the author's father. It is also a consideration of the community and personal relationships formed over noncommercial, hand-harvested food.

The present study sought for practical ways to improve the frying performance of oils without compromising the availability of the essential fatty acids and nutraceuticals. To this end, the influence of temperature, oxygen concentrations, and compositions of minor components on frying performance was investigated. A novel frying protocol, utilizing carbon dioxide blanketing, was developed and found to significantly improve the performance of the frying oil. Optimizing both the amounts and the compositions of endogenous minor components also improved the performance of the frying oil. Twenty one novel antioxidants were synthesized and evaluated under frying and storage conditions. Antioxidant formulations consisting of a combination of endogenous and synthesized antioxidants were developed and tested in an institutional frying operation. A rapid and effective frying test was developed to assess the frying performance of oils and applied antioxidants. Furthermore, a novel procedure for direct hydroxynonenal analysis in frying oil was developed. / xx, 249 leaves; 29 cm