Oleamide, a Bioactive Compound, Unwittingly Introduced into the Human Body through Some Plastic Food/Beverages and Medicine Containers

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the migration of oleamide, a polymer lubricant, and a bioactive compound, from various plastic, marketed containers for food/beverages and medicines into polymer contact liquid. Methanol, food/medicine simulants or real samples were used to extract polymer leachables and extractables. Migrated oleamide into polymer contact liquids was determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS). The concentration of oleamide in the extracts of medicinal and insulin syringes was 7351 ng mL−1 and 21,984 ng mL−1, respectively. The leachates of intravenous (i.v.) infusion bottle, medicinal and insulin syringes contained 17 ng mL−1, 12 ng mL−1 and 152 ng mL−1, respectively. Oleamide in the extracts of dummies ranged from 30 to 39 ng mL−1, while in the leachates of baby bottles, from 12 to 23 ng mL−1. Leachates of soft drink bottles contained from 6 to 15 ng mL−1 oleamide, milk bottles from 3 to 9 ng mL−1, liquid yogurt bottles 17 ng mL−1 and water bottles from 11 to 18 ng mL−1. Bottled real matrices of oil and milk contained oleamide in the range from 217 to 293 ng mL−1. Moreover, the source of migrated oleamide (e.g., containers, caps, other parts) was identified. Oleamide is listed in the current EU regulations without a specific migration limit. Accordingly, these values are considered of no concern, unless future toxicological studies prove the opposite.

Metabolomic Study of Urine from Workers Exposed to Low Concentrations of Benzene by UHPLC-ESI-QToF-MS Reveals Potential Biomarkers Associated with Oxidative Stress and Genotoxicity

“…Pabst et al, (2017) [ 73 ] reported an increase in fatty amides (oleamide and palmitoleoyl ethanolamide) in AML cells. A oleamide is an endogenous bioactive signaling molecule, similar to endocannabinoids, which participates in sleep regulation via the CB1 receptor and has anti-inflammatory action [ 83 , 84 ]. It is believed that the reduction of these bioactive metabolites in the urine of occupationally exposed workers is a consequence of their increased consumption, an adaptive response triggered in order to contain the toxic effects induced by benzene.…”

GC-MS Analysis and Antioxidant Potential of the Stem and Leaf Extracts of Dendrophthoe pentandra (L.) Miq. Hemiparasite on Shorea roxburghii G. Don and Cassia fistula L.

“…Oleamide can bind to cannabinoid receptors and produce a variety of biological actions such as sleep induction, immunosuppression, and anti-inflammatory. 25 The stem ethanol extracts of D. pentandra showed the highest phenolic content and antioxidant activity compared to the leaf extracts. Also, Alharits et al 26 evaluated the antioxidant capacity of mistletoe leaf and flower extracts.…”

Determination of oleamide bulk‐to‐surface distribution in polypropylene for medical use depending on sterilization method and storage time

“…[3,4] Studies report pharmacological effects of oleamide such as antiinflammatory and cannabinoid-like behavior, influence on specific receptors or even inhibition of human enzymes. [5,6] Widely used as lubricant with migratory properties in polymers it can leach from laboratory ware [7] and interfere with analytical studies [5] as well as from medical goods like syringes [8,9] and intravenous infusion bottles [6] and also from food and beverage packaging or baby bottles to enter the human body. [6] Currently, there are no regulations in the EU for the amount of leaching oleamides from medical devices or food packaging.…”

“…Values measured so far are not classified as critical according to the present status. [ 6 ] Nevertheless, it should be the endeavor of manufacturers of medical devices and packaging materials to keep the potential of leaching additives as low as possible.…”

“…[ 5,6 ] Widely used as lubricant with migratory properties in polymers it can leach from laboratory ware [ 7 ] and interfere with analytical studies [ 5 ] as well as from medical goods like syringes [ 8,9 ] and intravenous infusion bottles [ 6 ] and also from food and beverage packaging or baby bottles to enter the human body. [ 6 ] Currently, there are no regulations in the EU for the amount of leaching oleamides from medical devices or food packaging. Values measured so far are not classified as critical according to the present status.…”