Detoxification of aflatoxin B1 by bacteriocins and bacteriocinogenic lactic acid bacteria

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of lactic acid bacteria and their bacteriocins in detoxifying aflatoxins. Aflatoxin B1 detoxification abilities of lactic acid bacteria both in liquid culture and as concentrated pellets, their bacteriocins, and mixtures of these 3 were evaluated. Mixed cultures of the 2 bacteria were also investigated. Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactococcus lactis were separately able to detoxify aflatoxin B_1 in solutions. Lb. plantarum had a better detoxification rate (46%) than Lc. lactis (27%). After heat treatment, only the groups that contained pellets released the bound toxin back into the solution. Although bacteria and their bacteriocins were effective individually at detoxification, their efficacy was increased when they were used together. When Lc. lactis and Lb. plantarum were incubated in separate tubes and then mixed, that group had a significantly increased ability to bind toxins (59%) compared to their use alone. When these 2 strains were incubated together in a single broth culture, the most successful detoxification rate (81%) was achieved. Within this co-culture group, the bacteriocins alone were the most effective (90%) at removing aflatoxin B1 from solution.