Antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Pituranthos scoparius extracts in alginate/gelatin matrix for pumpkin preservation.

Recent research efforts have increasingly focused on the development of environmentally sustainable, bio-based antimicrobial and antioxidant films as alternatives to conventional plastics, which pose significant environmental and biological hazards. In this study, gelatin derived from chicken feet was combined with essential oils, ethanolic extracts from the plant Pituranthos scoparius (PS), and alginate to fabricate films with enhanced antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. A total of six film formulations, including controls, were produced, and their physicochemical and mechanical characteristics, as well as antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, were systematically evaluated.

Concentrations, Sources, and Health Risk of Heavy Metals in Edible Parts of Broilers from Northeast of Algeria.

Heavy metals contamination of poultry products is a major concern for public health. This study aimed to determine the concentration of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), and iron (Fe) in the edible parts of broilers, as well as in feed, drinking water, and litter as sources of contamination and to assess their possible human health risk in the province of Jijel (Northeast Algeria). The range of Hg, Pb, and Fe in edible parts were 0.