Proximate Analysis and Safety Profile of Farmed Edible Bird's Nest in Malaysia and Its Effect on Cancer Cells.

Sin Nee Tan,Johnson Stanslas,Chee Woei Lim,Dahiru Sani,Aini Ideris,Christopher Thiam Seong Lim

doi:10.1155/2020/8068797

Sin Nee Tan, Johnson Stanslas + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8068797

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Abstract

Edible bird's nest (EBN) which is solidified swiftlet's saliva contains high nutritional value. It is widely consumed in countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. However, previous proximate analysis of Malaysia EBN was not representative of all the regions in Malaysia. In recent years, safety issues such as high nitrate and nitrite contents, presence of heavy metal, adulteration, fungal infection, and cancer cell stimulation were associated with EBN. Hence, this study aimed to determine the proximate analysis, safety profile during normal weather and hazy periods, and its effect on cancer cells stimulation in Malaysia-farmed EBN. Seven raw cleaned EBN samples were sourced from 6 different regions in Malaysia. Proximate analysis and safety profile were performed using official AOCA methods and Malaysian Standard. High protein (53.03–56.37%) and carbohydrate content (27.97–31.68%) with an acceptable level of moisture (10.8–14.04%) and ash (2.22–3.38%) were reported. A good safety profile was obtained with low nitrite and nitrate levels, with undetectable heavy metals and no significant growth of pathogenic microorganism except mould. Epidermal growth factor was detected but below the quantification level with the chicken EGF ELISA kit. The microculture tetrazolium (MTT) assay was performed for growth stimulation assessment comparing human EGF and EBN. There was no significant cell growth observed in cancer cells after EBN treatment. In conclusion, EBN Malaysia has a good nutritional profile, free of heavy metals, and an acceptable level of nitrate, nitrite, and microorganism profile except for mould contents. Furthermore, the in vitro study indicated that EBN was not associated with cancer cell growth.

Highlights

Edible Bird’s Nest (EBN) is solidified saliva of Aerodramus fuciphagus
This paper aims to establish the proximate analysis and safety profile in terms of heavy metal, microorganism, and nitrate and nitrite contents of EBN from different regions in Malaysia
General Cell Culture Procedures. e cancer cells were cultured in a flask containing 5 mL of fresh medium at the subcultivation ratio of 1 : 4. e cultures were subsequently incubated at 37°C (5% CO2 and 95% air) until at least 80% of the flask was fully occupied, and the subculture process was repeated. e cells were washed with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and 1 mL of trypsin-Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was added

Summary

Introduction

Edible Bird’s Nest (EBN) is solidified saliva of Aerodramus fuciphagus. EBN has been used as the main ingredient in Traditional Chinese Medicine and cuisine as early as the Tang (618–907 AD) and Sung (960–1279 AD) dynasties [1]. High nutritional and medicinal values of EBN and the danger and difficulty of the nest collection process have made EBN as one of the world’s most valuable animal food products consumed by mankind with an average selling price of $ 2500 per kilogram. Previous studies had reported a wide range of protein and carbohydrate contents from Malaysia EBN despite using the same method. Despite being acclaimed as a nutritious food, there are many safety issues arising from Malaysia EBN in recent years; namely, high nitrate and nitrite contents [8, 9], EBN adulteration [5], presence of heavy metal [4, 10], pathological microorganism, and fungal infection [11]. High intake of nitrate and nitrite were reported to be associated with an increased

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