Naslov
Bio-Prevalence, Determination and Reduction of Aflatoxin B1 in Cereals

Autori
Pleadin, Jelka ; Markov, Ksenija ; Frece, Jadranka ; Vulić, Ana ; Perši, Nina

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Poglavlja u knjigama, znanstveni

Knjiga
Aflatoxins: Food Sources, Occurrence and Toxicological Effects

Urednik/ci
Adina G. Faulkner

Izdavač
Nova Science Publishers

Godina
2014

Raspon stranica
1-34

ISBN
978-1-63117-298-4

Ključne riječi
Aflatoxin B1, Cereals, Occurrence, ELISA, LC-MS/MS, Methods of reduction

Sažetak
Moulds of Aspergillus genus are among the most important causes of food and feed spoilage and can produce mycotoxins as toxic secondary metabolites when under adverse conditions. Aflatoxins are a group of mycotoxins that commonly contaminate maize and groundnuts, and are categorized by the International Agency for Research on Cancer under Class 1A human carcinogens. From the food safety standpoint, one of the most important mycotoxins is aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Due to its potent carcinogenic, teratogenic and mutagenic effects dependent on the level and length of exposure, the presence of this contaminant in food and feed should be kept as low as achievable. In order to investigate the occurrence of AFB1, determine its concentrations and explore the possibility of its reduction using different methods, samples of maize, wheat, barley and oat were collected from different cultivation fields during a three-year period. The immunoassay (ELISA) as a screening method and high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) as a confirmatory method were used to determine AFB1 concentrations. Maize contamination seen with AFB1 concentrations higher than permitted was associated with climate conditions established in the period of concern, which was extremely warm and dry, and might had favored mould production and AFB1 formation. Substantial to almost absolute AFB1 reduction in the maize samples was achieved using gamma radiation. A strong antifungal effect was also obtained upon the use of essential oils and lactic acid bacteria as biological AFB1-reduction alternatives. As the presence of AFB1 in cereals could be dangerous for human and animal health, in order to prevent its harmful effects and huge economic problems, the prevention of formation of this contaminant and consistent control over it are of major interest. Based on these substantiated grounds, possibilities of implementing new methods of AFB1 determination and reduction within the frame of safe food production are virtually countless.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biotehnologija, Prehrambena tehnologija

POVEZANOST RADA