Abstract
Ligninolytic enzymes from white-rot fungi, such as laccase (Lac) and Mn-peroxidase (MnP), are able to degrade aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), the most harmful among the known mycotoxins. The high cost of purification of these enzymes has limited their implementation into practical technologies. Every year, tons of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) are produced as a by-product of edible mushroom cultivation, such as Pleurotus spp., and disposed at a cost for farmers. SMS may still bea source of ligninolytic enzymes useful for AFB1 degradation. The in vitro AFB1-degradative activity of an SMS crude extract (SMSE) was investigated. Results show that: (1) in SMSE, high Lac activity (4 U g−1 dry matter) and low MnP activity (0.4 U g−1 dry matter) were present; (2) after 1 d of incubation at 25 °C, the SMSE was able to degrade more than 50% of AFB1, whereas after 3 and 7 d of incubation, the percentage of degradation reached the values of 75% and 90%, respectively; (3) with increasing pH values, the degradation percentage increased, reaching 90% after 3 d at pH 8. Based on these results, SMS proved to be a suitable source of AFB1 degrading enzymes and the use of SMSE to detoxify AFB1 contaminated commodities appears conceivable.
Highlights
IntroductionB1 (AFB1) is the most harmful among the Afs and exhibits extremely high hepatotoxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic effects on humans and animals [1]
Aflatoxins (AFs) are mycotoxins produced mainly by fungi of the genus Aspergillus
High Lac activity (4 U ± 1 g−1 of dry matter, DM) and low MnP
Summary
B1 (AFB1) is the most harmful among the Afs and exhibits extremely high hepatotoxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic effects on humans and animals [1]. Agency for Research on Cancer [2] as a Group 1 substance, that is of proven carcinogenicity to humans. Many agricultural commodities such as groundnuts (peanuts), corn, sorghum, rice, spices, nuts, and several other cereals are subjected to infestation by aflatoxigenic molds and thereby contamination with AFB1 [3,4]. Human exposure to AFB1 can result directly from the ingestion of contaminated food or indirectly from the consumption of products from animals fed with contaminated feed [5]. According to the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (EU RASFF) reports [6], in the last ten years, Toxins 2020, 12, 49; doi:10.3390/toxins12010049 www.mdpi.com/journal/toxins
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