Studies on Contamination Level of Aflatoxins in Cereals, Dried FruitNuts and Application of Method for Decontamination
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Date
2011
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Center of Biotechnology & Microbiology, University of Peshawar
Abstract
In this study survey was conducted to determine the incidence of total
aflatoxins in some dried fruits, nuts, cereals and beans. Samples of dried fruits/nuts
(180) and cereals/beans (160) were analyzed for the detection of total AFs by high
pressure liquid chromatography. The contamination level (%) of total AFs was
observed as in; dried apricot (20 %), dates (10 %), dried figs (50 %), dried mulberries
(26 %) and raisins (20 %), apricot kernels (26 %), almonds without shell (30 %),
walnuts with shell (40 %), walnuts without shell (70 %), peanut with shell (40 %),
peanuts without shell (50 %), pistachios with shell (20 %), pistachios without shell
(50 %) and pine nuts with shell (20 %). The contamination level (%) of total AFs was
also observed as in; rice (25 %), rice broken (15 %), wheat (20 %), maize (40 %)
barley (20 %) and sorghum (30 %), red kidney beans (20 %), split peas (27 %), chick
pea (10 %), cow pea (20 %), and soybean (15 %).
The studies on decontamination by different methods / techniques were also
evaluated to decontaminate the mycotoxin (aflatoxins) contaminated agricultural
commodities. In biological decontamination, the anti-fungal activity of some
chemicals, herbal compounds/spices and plants at different concentrations were
evaluated against the toxin producing Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus
growth inhibition and aflatoxin production. Among the chemicals screened, benzoic
acid (0.1 — 0.5 %), propionic acid (0.1 — 0.5 %) and copper sulphate (0.2 — 0.5 %)
showed complete inhibition of Aspergillus flavus growth. Sodium propionate and
potassium metabisulphite showed high, while ammonia, urea and citric acid were
moderate in inhibiting fungal growth. In case of the herbal compounds/spices, clove
(0.5 %) and clove oil (0.5 %) showed complete inhibition. Clove oil, cinnamon,
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coriander and neem oil represented high, while kalonji and neem oil showed moderate
antifungal activity. Among the plants garlic and onion showed complete inhibition,
while ginger, neem and lemon grass had high antifungal activity.