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SummaryCollagen isolated from the ribbon jellyfi sh (Chrysaora sp.) was hydrolysed using three diff erent proteases (i.e. trypsin, alcalase and Protamex) to obtain bioactive peptides. Angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity and antioxidant activities (i.e. ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity) of the peptides were measured and compared, and the eff ect of the duration of hydrolysis on the bioactivity (ACE inhibitory and antioxidant activities) of peptides was also evaluated. FRAP activity was the highest in Protamex-induced (25-27 mM) and trypsin-induced hydrolysates (24-26 mM) at 7 and 9 h, respectively. Conversely, hydrolysates produced by trypsin for 1 and 3 h showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activities (94 and 92 %, respectively). Trypsin-induced hydrolysates (at 3 h) also showed the highest ACE inhibitory activity (89 %). The peptide sequences with the highest activities were identifi ed using tandem mass spectrometry, and the results show that the hydrolysates had a high content of hydrophobic amino acids as well as unique amino acid sequences, which likely contribute to their biological activities.

This study was conducted to evaluate the toxic effects of an azo dye carmoisine widely used in foods and to investigate its relation to carcinogenicity. Carmoisine administered into mice orally in four different doses as control, low, medium, and high equivalent to 0, 4, 200, and 400 mg/kg bw, respectively, for 120 days. The key toxicological endpoint was observed including animal body weight, organ weights, hematology, biochemistry, and molecular biology assessment. The body weights of medium‐ and high‐dose carmoisine‐treated mice group were significantly decreased as compared to the control mice group. Platelet, white blood cell and monocyte counts of treated group were considerably higher, while Hb and red blood cell counts were drastically lower than the control group. The biochemical parameters such as serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, globulin, urea, and creatinine level were significantly increased, while serum cholesterol level was decreased after treatment as compared to the control. RT‐PCR results showed that expression of Bcl‐x and PARP gene was intensively increased, whereas expression of p53 gene was decreased in the mouse liver tissues treated with carmoisine. This study revealed that high‐dose (400 mg/kg bw) treatment of carmoisine was attributable to renal failure and hepatotoxicity. It also would be suspected as a culprit for liver oncogenesis.

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The molecular mass distribution, amino acid composition and radical-scavenging activity of collagen hydrolysates prepared from collagen isolated from the sea cucumber Stichopus vastus were investigated. β and α1 chains of the collagen were successfully hydrolysed by trypsin. The molecular mass distribution of the hydrolysates ranged from 5 to 25 kDa, and they were rich in glycine, alanine, glutamate, proline and hydroxyproline residues. The hydrolysates exhibited excellent radical-scavenging activity. These results indicate that collagen hydrolysates from S. vastus can be used as a functional ingredient in food and nutraceutical products.

The study aimed at assessing the in-store losses of rice caused by biotic and abiotic factors in the storage structures/containers at farmers' level. The farmers' suggested ways of reducing in-store losses of rice are also discussed. A total of 96 villages covering 26 Upazilas under 14 civil districts across all the divisions of the country were selected for present investigation. The districts were put under five different regions to capture the dimensions of study. In all, 1360 samples of Aus, Aman and Boro rice farmers were selected randomly and purposively from the study areas and put into marginal, small, medium and large farm category based on their land ownerships. Data were collected through pre-tested questionnaires. Different traditional rice storage structures/containers like Dole, Berh, Inside-house Gola, Outside-house Gola, Steel/Plastic drums, Motka, Gunny bag and Plastic/Polythene bags were commonly used by farmers in the study areas. The storage time of rice varied from 3.05 to 7.24 months irrespective of rice, farm and region with the overall average being 5.5 months. Significant losses in stored rice occurred through the activities of both biotic and abiotic factors. The average in-store losses occurred for Aus, Aman and Boro rice were respectively 3.68, 3.80 and 4.12% with the aggregated average being 3.92%. The average in-store losses of rice in large, medium, small and marginal farmers were 4.48, 3.92, 4.0 and 3.59% respectively. The in-store losses occurred in regions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were 3. 31, 5.23, 3.62, 4.44 and 3.25% respectively. The farmers suggested a number of ways for reducing in-store losses of rice including training on capacity building and awareness for safe storage, credit for constructing durable storage structure, construction of common storage structures at village/union level, preventive measures against biotic and abiotic factors, supplying farmers with durable storage containers and keeping them well ahead informed about the natural calamities.

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