Assessing the ability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to bind aflatoxin B1 from contaminated medium

Abstract

PurposeThis study was conducted with the aim of examining the ability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to remove AFB1 from liquid media in order to use data in food and feed systems.Design/methodology/approachThe binding of AFB1 to Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the late exponential and early stationary phases was studied for viable, heat killed and acid killed yeast. AFB1 at concentrations (5, 10 and 20 μg/l) was added to the yeast culture (109 cfu/ml) in yeast mold broth medium and incubated at 25°C for 4, 12 and 24 hrs. The aflatoxin binding capacity of the strain was quantified by the amount of unbound AFB1 using ELISA technique.FindingsThe detoxification rate for different treatments reported as follows: acid treated cells > heat treated cells > viable cells. Also, the most reduction in AFB1 concentration happened within the first four hours of incubation with no significant increase in AFB1 binding on further incubation because of saturation of active sites in yeast cells. According to the results, either form of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (viable or nonviable) is effective in aflatoxin binding from medium and the binding has a physical nature.Social implicationsThe findings reduce the public concern about aflatoxin B1 contamination in foods and feeds having high risk of aflatoxin contamination.Originality/valueNo research had been done to assess the ability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the mentioned forms to detoxify AFB1.