Aflatoxin Content (aflatoxin + content)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Aflatoxin Inactivation Using Aqueous Extract of Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi) Seeds

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 1 2005
Shruti S. Hajare
ABSTRACT: Aqueous extract of ajowan seeds was found to contain an aflatoxin inactivation factor (IF). Thin layer chromatography analysis of the toxins after treatment with IF showed relative reduction of aflatoxin G1 > G2 > B1 > B2. Quantification of toxin using a fluorotoxin meter as well as the Enzyme Linked Immuno s orb ent Assay (ELISA) confirmed these findings. An approximate 80% reduction in total aflatoxin content over the controls was observed. This observed phenomenon of reduction in total toxin was referred to as toxin inactivation. Temperature was found to influence the rate of toxin inactivation. At 45 °C, it was found to be rapid during the initial 5 h and slowed later. The IF was found to retain considerable activity even after boiling and autoclaving, indicating partial heat stability. The activity was lost below pH 4.0. Above pH 4.0, it increased gradually, reaching the maximum at pH 10.0. IF was found to be stable to gamma irradiation. Toxin decontamination in spiked corn samples could be achieved using IF. This study emphasizes the potential of ajowan IF in aflatoxin removal from contaminated food commodities. However, the biological toxicity, if any, of the IF inactivated aflatoxins needs to be confirmed, and the work in this direction is in progress. [source]


Inhibitory effect of phenolics extracted from sorghum genotypes on Aspergillus parasiticus (NRRL 2999) growth and aflatoxin production

JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 6 2007
CV Ratnavathi
Abstract The inhibitory activity of bioactive polyphenols present in six sorghum genotypes,two red (AON 486 and IS 620), two yellow (LPJ and IS 17779) and two white (SPV 86 and SPV 462) varieties,on Aspergillus parasiticus (NRRL 2999) growth and aflatoxin production was evaluated. In the first experiment the production of aflatoxins in the six sorghum genotypes after removal of surface phenolics by acidic methanol treatment was studied and compared with that in untreated grains. Aflatoxin production was found to be fourfold higher in treated grains. The total phenols and bioactive polyphenols extracted by acidic methanol were quantified using the Folin,Denis method and the bovine serum albumin,benzidine conjugate procedure respectively. In the second experiment the effect of extracted sorghum phenolics under in vitro conditions on fungal growth and aflatoxin production was studied at two concentrations (0.01% and 0.1%) of phenolics. Extracted phenolics added to yeast extract sucrose (YES) medium at 0.1% concentration showed an inhibitory effect on aflatoxin production. At 0.01% phenolic concentration, aflatoxin production was minimal on day 3 after infection. At other time points the aflatoxin content was similar to that in the control. At 9 days after infection the fungal biomass in IS 620 was significantly lower than that in the control. At 0.1% phenolic concentration, aflatoxin production was minimal and the red genotype IS 620 showed maximum resistance. Fungal biomass was lowest at all growth stages in IS 620 as compared with the control. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity was not detected in A. parasiticus grown on YES medium (control). PPO activity was not induced in A. parasiticus by the addition of phenolics to the liquid culture medium (no PPO activity was detected in the culture medium). The inhibitory activity of bioactive polyphenols could be attributed to the lack of PPO enzyme in this fungus. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Aflatoxin-detoxification achieved with Mexican traditional nixtamalization process (MTNP) is reversible

JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 12 2004
JA Méndez-Albores
Abstract To evaluate the effectiveness of maize detoxification achieved with the Mexican traditional nixtamalization process (MTNP), grain contaminated with 678.3 µg/kg of total aflatoxins was processed into tortillas. The MTNP caused an apparent 93.2% decrease in aflatoxin content in tortillas. However, extracts acidification prior to mycotoxin quantification caused in maize dough (masa) a 57.2% reformation of the original aflatoxin and 33.9% in tortillas. According to these results, the MTNP seems not to be safe for total detoxification, since a high percentage of the original aflatoxin content can be reverted to the original fluorescent form by the acidic medium. Acidification of the aflatoxin extracts, as occurs during digestion, would lead to a rebuilding of the aflatoxin molecule. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry [source]