Aflatoxin B1 Reduction Research Articles

Preparation of Soybean Dreg-Based Biochar@TiO2 Composites and the Photocatalytic Degradation of Aflatoxin B1 Exposed to Simulated Sunlight Irradiation.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a highly toxic carcinogen severely harmful to humans and animals. This study fabricated SDB-6-K-9@TiO2 composites via the hydrothermal synthesis method to reduce AFB1. The structural characterization results of the photocatalytic composites showed that TiO2 was successfully loaded onto SDB-6-K-9. The different photocatalytic degradation conditions, photocatalyst kinetics, recycling performance, and photocatalytic degradation mechanism were investigated. Photocatalysis with 6 mg of 4%SDB-6-K-9@TiO2 in a 100 μg/mL AFB1 solution presented a reduction of over 95%, exhibiting excellent performance, high stability, and reusability even after five cycles of photocatalytic experiments. Active species trapping experiments confirmed that holes (h+) played the most critical role. After structural analysis and identification of the photocatalytic degradation products, the photodegradation path and photocatalytic oxidation mechanism of 4%SDB-6-K-9@TiO2 were postulated. The results show a new way to improve TiO2's photocatalytic performance, providing a certain theoretical basis for the effective AFB1 reduction.

Effect of dielectric barrier discharge high voltage atmospheric cold plasma on Aspergillus flavus inactivation and aflatoxin B1 degradation on inoculated raw peanuts

High voltage atmospheric cold plasma (HVACP) is an emerging non-thermal technology with short treatment time, low energy consumption, and no chemical residues on foods. Peanut samples inoculated with Aspergillus flavus spores and spiked with Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) toxin were treated with HVACP at 90 kV for 2, 5, and 10 min, and post-treatment storage times (0, 4, and 24 h) using air with different relative humidities (RH, 5, 40, and 80 %), respectively. A treatment of 5 min resulted in a 2.20 log spores reduction of A. flavus spores on peanuts. A. flavus was almost completely inactivated (99.9 %) by HVACP treatment for 10 min with 80 % RH in the air and 24 h post-treatment storage. A 71.3 % AFB1 reduction was achieved with a treatment of 2 min and 80 % RH without post-treatment. The reduction of AFB1 toxin also significantly increased with increasing treatment time, higher RH and post-treatment storage (p < 0.05). HVACP is a promising technology to effectively inactivate A. flavus and reduce AFB1 on raw peanut kernels without adversely affected peanut quality. Industrial relevanceTo improve the food safety and quality, it is crucial to develop an effective microbial decontamination approach while having minimal impact on the organoleptic characteristics and nutritional value of treated foods. Peanuts are an excellent source of plant-based protein, but they are highly susceptible to contamination with Aspergillus spp. mold, which may lead food safety issues. Cold plasma as an emerging non-thermal technology with short treatment time, low energy consumption, and no chemical residue on the food proves to be a promising tool to effectively inactivate A. flavus and reduce AFB1 on raw peanut kernels without adversely affected peanut quality.

Fusion Expression of Peptides with AflR Binuclear Zinc Finger Motif and Their Enhanced Inhibition of Aspergillus flavus: A Study of Engineered Antimicrobial Peptides.

This study reports a peptide design model for engineering fusion-expressed antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with the AflR dinuclear zinc finger motif to improve the defense against aflatoxins and Aspergillus flavus. The study identified AflR, a Zn2Cys6-type sequence-specific DNA-binding protein, as a key player in the regulation of aflatoxin biosynthesis. By integrating the AflR motif into AMPs, we demonstrate that these novel fusion peptides significantly lower the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and reduce aflatoxin B1 and B2 levels, outperforming traditional AMPs. Comprehensive analysis, including bioinformatics and structural determination, elucidates the enhanced structure-function relationship underlying their efficacy. Furthermore, the study reveals the possibility that the fusion peptides have the potential to bind to the DNA binding sites of transcriptional regulators, binding DNA sites of key transcriptional regulators, thereby inhibiting genes critical for aflatoxin production. This research not only deepens our understanding of aflatoxin inhibition mechanisms but also presents a promising avenue for developing advanced antifungal agents, which are essential for global food safety and crop protection.

Phytochemical screening, antioxidant activity of selected methanolic plant extracts and their detoxification capabilities against AFB1 toxicity

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a secondary metabolite produced principally by Aspergillus parasiticus and A. flavus. It is one of the most potent and commonly occurring dietary carcinogen with its carcinogenic potential being linked to the formation of DNA adducts and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Plant extracts contain a plethora of biologically active phytochemicals that act against ROS. This study aimed to assess the phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts of some medicinal plants and investigate their detoxification potentials against AFB1. Phytochemical screening together with total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS+)) assays) were performed on nine methanolic plant extracts. Extracts were incubated with AFB1 for 24 and 48 h and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis done to assess their AFB1 detoxification activities. The TPC of the extracts ranged from 88.92 ± 6.54 to 210.19 ± 7.90 mg GAE/g, while TFC ranged between 4.01 ± 0.94 and 32.48 ± 1.02 mg QE/g. Radical scavenging activities of extracts varied from 4.18 ± 1.37 to 251.53 ± 9.30 μg/mL and 8.36 ± 1.65 to 279.22 ± 8.33 μg/mL based on DPPH and ABTS+ assays, respectively. Six of the plant extracts showed a time-dependent detoxification activity against AFB1 after 48 h ranging from 20.17 to 38.13 %. C. dentata bark extract showed the highest percentage of AFB1 reduction, with mean percentages of 43.57 and 70.96 % at 24 and 48 h, respectively. This was followed by C. asiatica leaves and A. melegueta seeds with a maximum of 40.81 and 38.13 %, respectively after 48 h. These extracts also possessed high TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activities compared to all the other extracts. Findings from this study demonstrate the abundance of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity playing a role in potent AFB1 detoxification activity.

Influence of traditional dehulling on mycotoxin reduction and GC-HRTOF-MS metabolites profile of fermented maize products

Contamination with mycotoxins has been a worldwide food safety concern for several decades, and food processing has been suggested as a potential method to mitigate their presence. In this study, the influence of traditional dehulling (TD) on the mycotoxin reduction and metabolites profile of fermented white maize products obtained via natural and three controlled fermentation methods (involving Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus plantarum, and their mixed cultures) was examined. Gas chromatography coupled with high resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-HRTOF-MS) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) were employed. TD brought the levels of fumonisin B1 (FB1) and B2 (FB2) in the white maize below the regulatory limit set by the European Union (EU) for maize consumed by humans. While TD increased the concentration of several mycotoxins in the fermented maize products obtained from other studied fermentation methods, it primarily reduced aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), FB1, deoxynivalenol, and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol in the L. plantarum-fermented products. By tempering the dehulled maize, a solid-state fermentation process began. This was used in TD to make it easier to remove the pericarp. GC-HR-TOF-MS metabolomics revealed that TD brought about the generation of 12 additional compounds in the dehulled maize though some metabolites in the whole maize were lost/biotransformed. The fermented dehulled maize products obtained from the four studied fermentation procedures contained fewer compounds than the fermented whole maize products. Overall, the analysis showed that all fermented maize (whole and dehulled) produced had varied nutritional metabolites and mycotoxin concentrations below the EU maximum level, except for fermented maize obtained from mixed strains (AFB1 + AFB2 > 4.0 g/kg).

Characterization Chitosan Nanoparticles Prepared from the Stalks of Agaricus bisporus Brown and its Effect on Inhibition of Aspergillus flavus and Reducing Aflatoxin B1 Production

Chitosan nanoparticles have been prepared from the stalks of Agaricus bisporus mushroom via ionic gelation according to the connection between positive chitosan and negative tripolyphosphate (TPP). chitosan nanoparticles diagnosed via Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR); the size and shape of chitosan nanoparticles are tested by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). chitosan nanoparticles have been tested in inhibiting Aspergillus flavus in the concentrations (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2) %. The chitosan nanoparticles inhibition rate of the fungus has reached (35, 100, 100, 100) % respectively. tested The effectiveness chitosan nanoparticles in preventing A. flavus from producing Aflatoxin B1 in the concentrations (0.5, 1, 1.5) %. The rate of Aflatoxin B1 production inhibition by chitosan nanoparticles has reached (75.7, 100, 100) % respectively after 21 days of incubation at 28 degrees after estimating Aflatoxin B1 via HPLC. The study has proven that the effectiveness of chitosan nanoparticles in inhibiting the growth of A. flavus and inhibiting the production of Aflatoxin B1 from the fungus.

Efficiency of Some Clays and Organic Materials on the Reduction of Aflatoxin B1 Produced from Isolates of the Fungus Aspergillus flavus Contaminating Corn Grains

The study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of certain types of clay minerals, activated charcoal made from common reed and date palm kernel, in reducing the levels of aflatoxin B1(AFB1) produced by Aspergillus flavus that contaminated corn grains in a liquid medium, Yeast Extract Sucrose (YES). The results showed the presence of nine species of fungal genera that contaminated corn grains, with the Aspergillus spp being the most predominant, accounting for 42%, followed by the Penicillium spp with 27%, and the Fusarium spp with a 21%. The genera Rhizopus spp, Mucor spp, and Cladosporium spp had a prevalence of 5%, 4%, and 1%, respectively. The results of the thin-layer chromatography (TLC) test, which was used to isolate A. flavus fungi from corn grains and detect the presence of AFB1, showed variations in their ability to produce AFB1. Seventy-five percent of the diagnosed A. flavus isolates showed the ability to produce AFB1. The results indicated that all types of minerals used in the study were effective in reducing the levels of AFB1 in liquid media. Top of Form Similarly, activated charcoal from common reed showed a high potential for AFB1 reduction, where the highest reduction percentage was 93.90% for the activated charcoal from fermented reed at a concentration of 30 mgml−1.

Non-thermal plasma inhibited the growth and aflatoxins production of Aspergillus flavus, degraded aflatoxin B1 and its potential mechanisms

Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) and its toxic metabolites, aflatoxins, are widely distributed in agricultural products and foods, posing a grave threat to food safety and public health. This study investigated the decontamination effects and mechanism of non-thermal plasma (NTP) on A. flavus and aflatoxins. NTP primarily generated reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), effectively inactivating A. flavus spores via the Weibull + Tail model. The results of ultrastructural observation and membrane integrity revealed that fungal inactivation by NTP was mainly attributed to intracellular destruction rather than the direct damage of cell membranes. Furthermore, NTP induced the accumulation of intracellular ROS and NO, disrupting anti-oxidative and energy metabolic systems, thereby inducing fungal apoptosis via a caspase-dependent mitochondrial pathway, which is responsible for A. flavus spore inactivation. In addition, the results showed that NTP reduced aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production by regulating the expression of key genes in the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway. Moreover, NTP effectively degraded AFB1 by disintegrating the furan ring, modifying the methoxy group, and forming the double bond in cyclopentanone, thereby decreasing the toxicity of AFB1. Hence, NTP exhibits exceptional decontamination effects against A. flavus and AFB1 via fungal inactivation, aflatoxin biosynthesis suppression, and AFB1 degradation, making it a viable alternative strategy for agricultural disinfection.

Prevention of aflatoxin B1 toxicity by pomegranate peel extract and its effects on growth, blood biochemical changes, oxidative stressand histopathological alterations.

Contamination of animal feeds with mycotoxins is one of the most serious issues in the world of animal nutrition. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) versus oxytetracycline (OXY) in reducing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) toxicity in rabbits fed contaminated diets. This experiment was done on 48 weaned NZW, fourgroups (n = 12). The first(AF) served as the control group feed on an infected diet by AFB1 between 0.02 and 0.03 mg/kg BW; second(AF + OXY) received an infected diet by AFB1 and was treated with OXY 200 mg/kg BW/day; third(AF + PPE) received an infected diet by AFB1 and treated with PPE 130 mg/kg BW/day; fourth(AF + OXY + PPE) received an infected diet by AFB1 and treated with a daily oral dose of 100 mg/kg BW/day of OXY + PPE (65 mg/kg BW/day), the experiment lasted for 8 weeks experiment. The treated group with PPE and its combination with OXY concurrent with AF showed amelioration markedly for liver and kidney function. To summarise, adding PPE and combining it with OXY at a half dose to an AFB1-contaminated diet can help minimise the harmful effects of AFB1 on rabbit performance.

The synergistic effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles and yeast isolated from fermented foods in reduction of aflatoxin B1.

The presence of aflatoxins in food products can lead to health risks in human societies. Therefore, in the present study, the effect of yeast strains isolated from fermented products and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) was studied on aflatoxin reduction. Yeast strains were isolated from fermented products such as sweet fruits and dairy products and identified using biochemical, ascospore (testing by culture medium optimization V8 which is called V8NLF), and molecular methods. The probiotic activity of four selected yeasts was evaluated. Then, the effect of selected yeast isolates and TiO2-NPs on reducing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in the medium was studied by measuring AFB1 using ELISA and HPLC. The results of biochemical and molecular identification experiments indicate that the selected strain (Y1) is Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The selected strains showed good tolerance to different concentrations of bile salt, pH, and NaCl, indicating appropriate probiotic activity. It also showed antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, and Salmonella typhimurium. Selected strain and TiO2-NPs showed AFB1 reducing activity in the medium and when combined, showed synergistic effects in reducing AFB1. TiO2-NPs in combination with selected yeast strains have a high ability to remove AFB1 from the medium and, therefore, can be used for future studies.

Testing the Efficiency of Silver Nanoparticles Manufactured Locally by the Alga Spirogyra in Inhibiting the Fungus Aspergillus flavus and Reduction of Aflatoxin B1

This experiment was conducted in the mycotoxins lab at the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences-University of Baghdad with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of bio- and locally manufactured silver nanoparticles by the alga Spirogyra locally and biologically manufactured silver nanoparticles in inhibiting the fungus Aspergillus flavus and reduction of aflatoxin B1. The results showed the alga Spirogyra highly efficient in the biologically manufactured silver nanoparticles and the size of the synthesized nanoparticles was 8.504 nm when examined by atomic force microscope AFM, which showed a high efficiency in inhibiting the isolate of the fungus Aspergillus flavus at concentrations 1.5, 2 and 3, and the percentage of inhibition was 86.7%, 97.64, 100%, respectively, It also indicated a high efficiency in preventing the fungus from producing aflatoxin B1 on the stored wheat grains. The concentrations of toxins in stored wheat samples were 6.25 ppb, 4.11 ppb and 0.0ppb for concentrations 1.5, 2, and 3 compared with the control treatment in which the concentration of aflatoxin B1 was 88.4ppb, as the percentage of reduction was 92.92%, 95.35% and 100, respectively. The results of biologically manufactured silver nanoparticles also showed an efficiency in reducing aflatoxin B1 from stored wheat grains. The concentration (3) was superior in reducing aflatoxin B1 to 2ppb compared to concentrations of (1.5 and 2), in which the toxin concentration reached 10.25 ppb and 7.15 ppb, respectively, with a reduction percentage of 88.4%, 91.91% and 97.73%.

Application of lime peel oil composite nanoemulsion to prevent toxigenic fungi in nuts

Food byproduct oils may have antimicrobial impacts when used in coating and preservation. Nuts are known to suffer from toxigenic fungi and their related mycotoxins. The present study utilized lime oil emulsion to minimize fungal infection and reduce aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Besides, it evaluated lime oil's impact on nuts' protection against oxidation and deterioration during storage. Lime oil was extracted using hydrodistillation, and gas chromatography (GC-MS) evaluated volatile constituents. Oil was loaded into a composite emulsion of whey protein, Arabic gum, gelatin, and carboxymethyl cellulose. The antimicrobial and antifungal properties of the nut-coating emulsion were evaluated. A simulated Aspergillus flavus infection experiment evaluated composite resistance for fungal infection and AFB1 production. Oxidation and acidity changes in nuts oil composition were evaluated by proximate analysis, fatty acid composition, and induction period. The oil majority was recorded for terpenes and monoterpenes, including limonene (44.69 ± 2.11%). The emulsion was characterized by zeta potential (−21.16 ± 1.28 mV), stability (99.61 ± 0.02%), and polydispersity index (0.41 ± 0.05). Antimicrobial properties recorded a high antibacterial inhibition zone (up to 28.37 ± 0.11 mm) and anti-mycotoxigenic fungi (up to 37.61 ± 0.24 mm). For the simulated experiment, fungal growth reduction ranged between 78.02% for filmed-peanut and 84.5% for filmed-almond, while AFB1 was not detected in filmed hazelnut and almond. During the one-year storage of samples, there was a slight change in nut oil composition and oxidation progress in filmed nuts, while there was a significant change in non-filmed nuts. The result recommended lime-composite as an edible nut coating that prevents aflatoxigenic contamination, oxidation changes, and improved shelf life.

THE ABILITY OF Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TSD-10 AND DR-162 TO REDUCE AFLATOXIN AND MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION OF CORN

Feed safety becoming the main factor to produce good quality food. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of lactic acid bacteria in degrading aflatoxin B1, suppressing the growth of contaminant bacteria, and its application on feed. Biological degradation of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in liquid cultures and Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces aureus inhibition by Lactobacillus plantarum were examined. Fermentation of corn for 24 hours by L. plantarum was used to determine the ability of LAB to decrease E. coli, coliform, mold, and AFB1 on a solid substrate. This study showed that both L. plantarum TSD-10 and DR-162 could inhibit E. coli growth at 3% and 5% supernatant addition. The addition of 5% L. plantarum DR-162 and TSD-10 could inhibit S. aureus at 97.40% and 97.28%, respectively. Furthermore, viable cells of L. plantarum DR-162 and TSD-10 removed 56.97% and 64.65% AFB1 within 72 h of incubation, respectively. The AFB1 reduction by nonviable cell was lower than the viable cell. The population of E. coli, coliform, and mold completely disappeared in both fermentation treatment of corn by L. plantarum DR-162 and TSD-10 at 3% and 5%. AFB1 significantly decreased by 17.57% and 22.60% on 5% L. plantarum DR-162 and TSD-10 treatment.

Aflatoxin B1 elimination in low-grade maize by co-influence of heat and chemical treatment

This research investigated the optimal conditions of heat and chemical treatment for elimination of aflatoxin. NaOH showed the highest inhibition percentage (75.44%) of Aspergillus flavus growth that was isolated from lowgrade maize. Low-grade maize contaminated with A. flavus was treated with NaOH by varying three factors in three levels: NaOH concentration (0, 2.5 and 5% w/v), temperature (25, 50 and 75°C) and time (24, 48 and 72 h). Aflatoxin was removed from low-grade maize after sprinkling with 5% w/v NaOH at 50°C for 24 h that reduced aflatoxin B1 content to 4.25 µg/kg with 60.35% reduction from initial value. The use of NaOH solution with simple heat influenced the reduction in fungal contamination and elimination of aflatoxin B1.

Protective Role of Pomegranate Seed Extract to Reduce Aflatoxin B1 Toxicity in Rabbits

Protective Role of Pomegranate Seed Extract to Reduce Aflatoxin B1 Toxicity in Rabbits

Mechanism of Inhibiting the Growth and Aflatoxin B1 Biosynthesis of Aspergillus flavus by Phenyllactic Acid.

Phenyllactic acid (PLA), a promising food preservative, is safe and effective against a broad spectrum of food-borne pathogens. However, its mechanisms against toxigenic fungi are still poorly understood. In this study, we applied physicochemical, morphological, metabolomics, and transcriptomics analyses to investigate the activity and mechanism of PLA inhibition of a typical food-contaminating mold, Aspergillus flavus. The results showed that PLA effectively inhibited the growth of A. flavus spores and reduced aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production by downregulating key genes associated with AFB1 biosynthesis. Propidium iodide staining and transmission electron microscopy analysis demonstrated a dose-dependent disruption of the integrity and morphology of the A. flavus spore cell membrane by PLA. Multi-omics analyses showed that subinhibitory concentrations of PLA induced significant changes in A. flavus spores at the transcriptional and metabolic levels, as 980 genes and 30 metabolites were differentially expressed. Moreover, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated PLA-induced cell membrane damage, energy-metabolism disruption, and central-dogma abnormality in A. flavus spores. The results provided new insights into the anti-A. flavus and -AFB1 mechanisms of PLA.

Test the Ability of Some Plant Extracts to Resist Aspergillus flavus and Reduce the Production of Aflatoxin B1

This study was conducted in the Plant Pathology Laboratory / College of Agriculture / University of Anbar to study and test the effectiveness of plant extracts (turmeric, pomegranate peel, banana peel) in inhibiting the growth of the fungus Aspergillus flavus and test its ability to reduce aflatoxin B1 from liquid media. The plant materials (powders and extracts) were used in three concentrations (0.1, 0.15, 0.2) mg/ml. The results showed that all plant materials were significantly effective in inhibiting the growth of A. flavus and their ability to reduce aflatoxin B1 from liquid media. Turmeric powder showed its superiority in its inhibitory effect on the growth of fungi on PDA culture medium, as it achieved the highest percentage of inhibition at a concentration of 0.2 mg/ml, which amounted to 87.41%. Whereas, banana peel powder gave the lowest inhibition rate at 0.1 mg/ml concentration (64.07%). While the aqueous extract of turmeric achieved inhibition in the growth of the fungus at a concentration of 0.2 mg / ml by 87.41%, outperformed the aqueous extract of pomegranate and banana, where the rates of inhibition reached 86.66% and 82.96%, respectively at the same concentration. In addition, the alcoholic extract of turmeric showed the highest rate of inhibition of fungi growth at a concentration of 0.2 mg/ml, which amounted to 94.07%, followed by the alcoholic extract of banana and pomegranate with a percentage of 93.3% and 88.14%, respectively, at the same concentration. The results of adsorption or binding of aflatoxin B1 from liquid media indicated that pomegranate peel powder at a concentration of 0.15 and 0.2 mg/ml showed a high efficiency in reducing aflatoxin reaching 100% compared to the control treatment (166.66 ppb), which is the same as the result of adding banana peel powder at the same concentration. While turmeric powder showed a lower reduction rate of 93.99%. Also, the results of using aqueous extracts showed the superiority of aqueous extracts of turmeric and pomegranate peels on the reduction of aflatoxin B1 by 93.99% at a concentration of 0.2 mg/ml for both and 84.99% for banana peels. The results of these ratios did not differ in the ability to absorb aflatoxin when using alcoholic extracts of plants at the same concentration.

Effects of Lactic Acid Bacteria Reducing the Content of Harmful Fungi and Mycotoxins on the Quality of Mixed Fermented Feed.

The contamination of fermented feeds and foods with fungi and mycotoxins is a major food safety issue worldwide. Certain lactic acid bacteria (LAB), generally recognized as safe (GRAS) fermentation probiotics, are able to reduce microbial and mycotoxins contamination. In this study, Lactiplantibacillus (L.) plantarum Q1-2 and L. salivarius Q27-2 with antifungal properties were screened as inoculants for mixed fermenting feed, and the fermentation and nutritional qualities, microbial community, and mycotoxins of mixed fermented feed were analyzed at different fermentation periods (1, 3, 7, 15, and 30 days, respectively). The findings indicated that the utilization of Q1-2 and Q27-2 strains in fermenting feed led to a decrease in pH and an increase in lactic acid concentration and the proportion of Lactiplantibacillus, while effectively restraining the proliferation of undesirable microorganisms. In particular, Q1-2 reduced the relative abundance of fungi including Fusarium and Aspergillus. Compared to the control group, the Q1-2 and Q27-2 groups reduced aflatoxin B1 by 34.17% and 16.57%, and deoxynivalenol by up to 90.61% and 51.03%. In short, these two LAB inoculants could reduce the contents of aflatoxin B1 and deoxynivalenol to the limited content levels stipulated by the Chinese National Standard GB 13078-2017. These findings suggest that the LAB strains of Q1-2 and Q27-2 have potential applications in the feed industry for the mitigation of mycotoxin pollution, thereby enhancing the quality of animal feed.

Probiotic-Based Optimization of Pistachio Paste Production and Detoxification of Aflatoxin B1 Using Bifidobacterium lactis

Pistachio paste is very popular for breakfast or supper thanks to its desirable taste, flavor, and texture. One of the hazards that are directly related to agricultural practices, processing, storage, and transportation of pistachios and the byproducts is aflatoxin, which can cause irreversible effects on the consumer. Probiotics are one of the most effective and safe methods to reduce aflatoxins. The variables under study were temperature and time, aflatoxin concentration, and probiotic content. In total, 30 treatments were determined through the rotatable central composite design. This is the first and most comprehensive study to optimize the production of probiotic pistachio paste and investigate the detoxification effects of aflatoxin B1 using Bifidobacterium lactis with six treatments and three replications in the pistachio paste matrix. In simple terms, it is possible to remove a higher percentage of toxins by increasing the number of microorganisms and decreasing the toxin level. The highest aflatoxin B1 reduction was observed in pistachio paste with aflatoxin B1 contamination of (19.7039 ng/g), which was spiked with Bifidobacterium lactis (109 CFU/g) and then stored at 25°C for 26.1853 days (aflatoxin B1: 8.00007 ng/g = 59.4% reduction), which is consistent with the permissible limits of the Iran National Standards Organization and the European Commission Regulation. The results showed a significant reduction in the aflatoxin B1 level in pistachio paste. The probiotics reduced aflatoxin B1 contamination to a permissible level. This is an important, safe, and effective solution, and unlike other methods, it increases the nutritional value of the product.

Potential of montmorillonite modified by an organosulfur surfactant for reducing aflatoxin B1 toxicity and ruminal methanogenesis in vitro

BackgroundMontmorillonite clay modified by organosulfur surfactants possesses high cation exchange capacity (CEC) and adsorption capacity than their unmodified form (UM), therefore they may elevate the adverse impact of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on ruminal fermentation and methanogenesis. Chemical and mechanical modifications were used to innovate the organically modified nano montmorillonite (MNM). The UM was modified using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and grounded to obtain the nanoscale particle size form. The dose-response effects of the MNM supplementation to a basal diet contaminated or not with AFB1 (20 ppb) were evaluated in vitro using the gas production (GP) system. The following treatments were tested: control (basal diet without supplementations), UM diet [UM supplemented at 5000 mg /kg dry matter (DM)], and MNM diets at low (500 mg/ kg DM) and high doses (1000 mg/ kg DM).ResultsResults of the Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy analysis showed shifts of bands of the OH-group occurred from lower frequencies to higher frequencies in MNM, also an extra band at the lower frequency range only appeared in MNM compared to UM. Increasing the dose of the MNM resulted in linear and quadratic decreasing effects (P < 0.05) on GP and pH values. Diets supplemented with the low dose of MNM either with or without AFB1 supplementation resulted in lower (P = 0.015) methane (CH4) production, ruminal pH (P = 0.002), and ammonia concentration (P = 0.002) compared to the control with AFB1. Neither the treatments nor the AFB1 addition affected the organic matter or natural detergent fiber degradability. Contamination of AFB1 reduced (P = 0.032) CH4 production, while increased (P < 0.05) the ruminal pH and ammonia concentrations. Quadratic increases (P = 0.012) in total short-chain fatty acids and propionate by MNM supplementations were observed.ConclusionThese results highlighted the positive effects of MNM on reducing the adverse effects of AFB1 contaminated diets with a recommended dose of 500 mg/ kg DM under the conditions of this study.