Pistachio and Health Journal
Volume:1 Issue: 2, Spring 2018

In the recent years, the security and safety of foods have taken on high importance, due to the presence of pesticide residues in agricultural products. In this research, Chlorpyrifos and Acetamiprid residues have been investigated in the fresh, dried, split and non-split shelled pistachio from the variety of Ouhadi.

The QuEChERS method was used for the extracting and cleaning up of the pesticides. The concentrations of Chlorpyrifos and Acetamiprid were determined using HPLC and Ion Mobility Spectrometer (IMS), respectively.

The results showed that the amounts of Chlorpyrifos and Acetamiprid residues in the split samples were higher compared with those of the non-split shells, and the amounts of both pesticide residues in the dried samples were lower compared with those of the fresh ones. Chlorpyrifos and Acetamiprid residue levels in the fresh split samples were 2 and 2.5 times higher than the Maximum Residue Level (MRL), respectively. In the dried split and non-split samples, the amounts of both pesticides were less than those of MRL. As a matter of fact, the sun drying process reduces the amount of pesticide residues in pistachio nuts.

the pesticides were normally applied to control pistachio pests and even after the pre-harvest interval, as suggested in previous research, the amounts of pesticide residues in fresh split samples were higher than MRL; therefore, there should also be some more serious hygienic controls such as pesticide residues in fresh and split pistachio nuts. In addition, it seems one should be more careful when using fresh and split pistachio nuts.

the subject of herbal remedy has attracted a lot of attention in common health fields, namely burn wounds. Pistacia vera (P. vera), being from the family of Anacardiaceae, possesses several important pharmacological properties. In this study, we aim at determining the healing effect of P. vera oil (topical administration) on the second-degree burn wound model of rats.

After the induction of the second-degree burn wounds in the anesthetized animals using the hot plate, P. vera ointment was administered topically (5% and 10%) for three weeks in two groups of animals. Other groups were treated with dexpanthenol or base cream for three weeks. Macroscopic and histological assessments were made to analyze the wound healing process.

data collected revealed that animals treated with P. vera 10% after 12 days of treatment showed significant repair in comparison with P. vera 5% or dexpanthenol. Moreover, after 22 days of the topical therapy, there was not any scar of wounds on animal skins which were under the treatment of P. vera 10%. Histological assessments showed that treatment with P. vera ointment is accompanied with a normal collagen deposition in the reticular layer as well as repaired epithelium in comparison with the base cream (p<0.01 for P. vera 5% and p<0.001 for P. vera 10%; in both parameters).

P. vera topical dosage forms may be effective treatments for the second-degree burn wounds, yet more studies are required to confirm the safety and possible repairing mechanisms.

Melatonin is involved in regulation of circadian rhythm and alleviation of sleep disorders, such as insomniadue to jet lag and shift work, as it plays a major role in synchronization of the sleep/wake cycle This study is devoted to extraction and determination of melatonin in Pistacia atlantica using anultrasound-assisted solid-liquid extraction (SLE) combined with UV-Vis Spectroscopy. The volume and type of extractionsolvent, sonication time, and extraction temperature on the extraction efficiency were optimized. Under optimum conditions, use of 30 mL of ethanol and 30 min sonication time caused to achieve the limit ofdetection (LOD) of 0.047 ppm. The method accuracy was confirmed according to the calculation of recovery using standardaddition method that, exhibited the successful applicability of the present method for real sample analysis. In addition, theobtained results were compared to those using gas chromatography/Mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). Combination of SLE andUV-Vis leads to greater sensitivity and lower cost for accurate and repeatable extraction of melatonin from Pistacia atlanticawith acceptable recovery and RSD% (1.04%). Therefore, we efficiently extracted and purified of melatonin from an inexpensive source (Pistacia atlanticafruit). The extracted melatonin can be replaced synthetic drugs.

Oxidative stress and free radicals play a crucial role in muscle fatigue. Pistacia vera (P. vera) contains manyantioxidant substances such as coenzyme Q-10, vitamin E and beta-carotene. The current study has been designed to evaluatethe effects of P. vera seeds (pistachios) on skeletal muscle fatigue in male Wistar rats. 50 Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups, including the normal, vehicle andtreated groups of pistachio extracts (10, 100, and 1000 mg/kg). Muscle fatigue was induced by treadmills. Animals would runat the speed of 20 m/min on a treadmill until they showed fatigue signs. This protocol was repeated for 10 days. The hydroalcoholic extracts of pistachios were gavaged 30 minutes before the induction of muscle fatigue every day. On the 11th day, ratswere sacrificed and biochemical parameters such as creatine phospho-kinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aspartateaminotransferase (AST) levels were measured in the plasma. The different doses of the pistachio extract led to an increase in the fatigue time on days 2 (100 mg/kg) (p<0.05), 4(10 and 100 mg/kg) (all p<0.05), 5 (10 and 1000 mg/kg) (all p<0.05), 7 (10 and 1000 mg/kg) (all p<0.05) and 9 (100 mg/kg)(p<0.05). The induction of muscle fatigue led to an increase in the serum activity of CPK, LDH and AST (all p<0.01). Thepistachio extract (10 and 100 mg/kg) decreased the serum activities of LDH and AST (all p<0.05). According to the results of this study, it was concluded that pistachios could decrease skeletal muscle fatigue in male Wistar rats.

The cracking of pistachio nuts is the major source of mold contamination as well as pests and aflatoxins.

The effects of deficit irrigation on pistachio-nut cracking were evaluated at two irrigation intervals(25 days and 45 days) and five omissions of the irrigation time. The frequencies of hull early splitting and cracking weredetermined in nuts.

All and all, long irrigation intervals and deficit irrigation since late April until early June were critical andincreased the early splitting rate (up to 90%) in comparison with regular irrigation. The highest frequencies of the earlysplitting of pistachios were observed due to the drought stress at early June ranging from 7.7 percent to 9.6 percent. Deficitirrigation in July increased the rate of pistachio hull cracking significantly. The averages of the hull early splitting andcracking formation were by 37 percent and 18.5 percent higher in 45 days of irrigation intervals compared with 25 days,respectively. The contents of B1 and B2 aflatoxins in hull early splitting and cracking were 223.4 µg.kg-1 and 25.47 µg.kg-1,respectively. In hull cracking fruits, aflatoxin B1 and B2 were 111.06 µg.kg-1 and 9.71 µg.kg-1, respectively.

In general, to reduce the risks of aflatoxins in pistachio nuts, it is critical to manage irrigation in April andJune.

Aflatoxins (AFs) are fungal subsidiary products that are predominantly generated by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillusparasiticus strains on cereals, nuts, dried fruits and dairy products under warm and humid conditions. Harmful fungi causespoilage in agricultural crops, and mycotoxins exert harmful effects on humans and livestock. Pistachios (Pistachio vera L) arefrom among the most well-known nut trees extremely susceptible to contamination by aflatoxins and the major contributors todietary aflatoxins. Aflatoxins, in particular aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), are from among the most toxic natural compounds withcarcinogenic effects. Besides, exposure to aflatoxins results in several health-related conditions in humans, including acute andchronic aflatoxicosis, immune suppression, liver cancer/cirrhosis, and stunting. Some traditional and novel control strategieshave been proposed for the elimination of AF prevalent in food crops. The application of nanoparticles is a newly advancedmethod where they are used as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer agents. Nanoparticles aremost widely used for the molecular detection of pathogens at the early stages of the plant growth and for the control ofdiseases. In this paper, the utilization and effects of nanomaterials on controlling aflatoxigenic fungi and their toxicity onpistachio nuts have been studied.

Aspergillus parasiticus is one of the primary sources of aflatoxin contamination in agricultural crops,especially nuts. Aflatoxin contamination is one of the most challenging problems in the production and exportation ofpistachios.

In this study, the antifungal effects of the silver-zinc mixture and silver nanoparticles on themycelia growth, spore germination and aflatoxin production of Aspergillus parasiticus have been evaluated.

The findings of the current study showed that the concentrations of 1250 ppm of Ag/Zn and 100-200 ppm of Agnanoparticles inhibit mycelia growth and the spore germination of Aspergillus parasiticus in liquid and solid mediasignificantly, but the concentration of 25 ppm of both nanoparticles has no inhibitory effects on the A. pararsiticus growthparameter. The results showed that the rate of inhibitory effects depends on the type of the medium and nanoparticles, but thefungal isolate had no significant effects on nanoparticles’ inhibitory features.

Ag/Zn nanoparticles had no regular effect on the reduction of aflatoxin production, yet Ag nanoparticlesreduced the production of aflatoxins, especially aflatoxins B2 and G2.