Cristina Pungartnik
Brazil
Research Article
Use of Theobroma cacao Pod Husk-Derived Biofertilizer is Safe as it Poses neither Ecological nor Human Health Risks
Author(s): Pedro Costa Campos Filho, Ronaldo Carvalho-Silva, Dhierllate Ferreira de Sousa, Sandra Lúcia Cunha e Silva, Aline Oliveira da Conceição, Cristina Pungartnik and Martin BrendelPedro Costa Campos Filho, Ronaldo Carvalho-Silva, Dhierllate Ferreira de Sousa, Sandra Lúcia Cunha e Silva, Aline Oliveira da Conceição, Cristina Pungartnik and Martin Brendel
Cacao farmers use macerated Theobroma cacao pod husks as biofertilizer for restoration of environmentally important soil elements, i.e., N, P, K, Na, Mg, and Ca. The increasing popularity of this organic material for soil management justifies to experimentally ascertaining that its application does not produce environmental or human health risks. We therefore applied a battery of biological tests to assess possible health risks related to the extract of fermented cacao pod husks [CHE]. Minimal inhibitory concentration for selected bacteria and fungi was established and an antiviral assay (equine herpes virus – EHV-1) and insecticide assay (Aedes aegypti larvae), to observe possible environmental impact. Toxicity tests used Artemia salina, hemolytic activity and cytotoxicity were tested using HT-29 e Vero cells, respectively. Genotoxicity and anti-genotoxic activity was tested in th.. View More»
