Seasonal Variation in Aflatoxin Levels in Edible Seeds, Estimation of Its Dietary Intake and Vitamin E Levels in Southern Areas of Punjab, Pakistan.

Ahmad Faizal Abdull Razis,Nadia Naheed,Sunusi Usman,Nada Basheir Ali,Shahzad Zafar Iqbal,Muhammad Rafique Asi,Muhammed Muzammel Shehzad

doi:10.3390/ijerph17238964

Abstract

A total of 779 samples of edible nuts (melon seeds, watermelon seeds, pumpkin seeds, and cantaloupe seeds) from Southern Punjab (Pakistan), were collected during the summer and the winter seasons. The natural occurrence of aflatoxins (AFs) and vitamin E (tocopherols) levels were investigated using HPLC. The results have shown that 180 (43.4%) of samples from the winter season and 122 (33.4%) samples from the summer season were found positive for AFs. Elevated average levels of total AFs (20.9 ± 3.10 μg/kg, dry weight) were observed in watermelon seeds without shell, and the lowest average amount (15.9 ± 3.60 μg/kg) were documented in melon seeds without shell samples from the winter season. An elevated average amount of total AFs 17.3 ± 1.50 μg/kg was found in pumpkin seeds available without a shell. The results have documented a significant difference in total AFs levels in edible seeds available with shells versus without shells (α = 0.05 & 0.01). The highest dietary intake of 6.30 μg/kg/day was found in female individuals from consuming pumpkin seeds (without shell) in the winter season. A value of 3.00 μg/kg/day was found in pumpkin seed without shell in the summer season in female individuals. The highest total tocopherol levels were 22.2 ± 7.70 ng/100 g in pumpkin seeds samples from the winter season and 14.5 ± 5.50 mg/100 g in melon seed samples from the summer season. The variation of total tocopherol levels in edible seeds among the winter and summer seasons showed a significant difference (p ≤ 0.0054), except watermelon seeds samples with non-significant differences (p ≥ 0.183).

Highlights

In recent years, owing to their beneficial nutritional value linked with the management of acute diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, cancer, obesity, and diabetes, the use of seeds as a dietary additives has increased substantially [1,2]
The results have shown that 27.2% of of samples of edible seeds having the levels of AFB1 higher than European Union (EU) permissible limit (≥5 μg/kg), samples of edible seeds having the levels of AFB1 higher than EU permissible limit (≥5 μg/kg), and and 12.2% of samples having total AFs levels greater than ≥ 20 μg/kg from the summer season as
The average amount of total AFs in edible seeds from the winter and summer seasons was considerably high compared to our previous studies

Summary

Introduction

In recent years, owing to their beneficial nutritional value linked with the management of acute diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, cancer, obesity, and diabetes, the use of seeds as a dietary additives has increased substantially [1,2]. The functional and nutraceutical properties are focused on their high content of essential proteins, fatty acids, synthetic fibers, antioxidants, carotenoids, minerals, and vitamins [2]. Seeds of the Cucurbitaceae family (including watermelon or pumpkin) are mostly thrown out, they can be utilized for food enrichment or nutraceutical development [3]. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 8964; doi:10.3390/ijerph17238964 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

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