Fungi Aspergillus Parasiticus Research Articles

Investigating the effect of acoustic waves on spoilage fungal growth and shelf life of strawberry fruit

The effects of acoustic waves on growth inhibition of food spoilage fungi (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus and Botrytis cinerea) on the medium and strawberry surfaces were investigated. Firstly, single-frequency sound waves (250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000, 12,000 and 16,000 Hz) were induced on inoculated medium with fungi spores for 24 h and growth diameter of each mold was evaluated during the incubation period. In the second stage, the sound waves with two frequencies of 250 Hz and 16,000 Hz were induced on inoculated strawberries with fungi spores at 5 °C for different times (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 days). The results from the first stage indicated that the sound waves inhibited the growth of A. niger (20.02%) at 250 Hz and B. cinerea (4/64%) at 4000 Hz on potato dextrose agar (PDA) surface. Also, comparison of the growth diameter of some species of Aspergillus revealed various responses in presence of 250 Hz frequency. In the second stage, applying a frequency of 250 Hz over a period of 10 days proved to be more effective in inhibiting the growth of A. niger and B. cinerea on strawberries inoculated with fungal spores. Consequently, the shelf lives of the strawberries significantly increased to 26 days and 18 days, respectively, under this treatment. Based on the findings, it is concluded that sounding with acoustic waves can be used as a green and cheap technology along with other technologies to improve food safety.

Physical Methods for Reduction of Aflatoxins Exposure in Groundnuts in Some Low-Income Countries: A Review

Aflatoxin (AF) is a powerful carcinogen primarily produced by some strains of the fungus Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, which frequently infest nuts and cereal crops. Groundnuts are among the most widely studied substrates of Aspergillus spp., growth and AF contamination. Aflatoxin contamination is a significant public health concern since chronic exposure is linked to causing carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, hepatotoxicity, estrogenicity, neurotoxicity, childhood growth impairment, and immunotoxicity in humans and animals. Acute exposure to AF contamination is associated with fatal aflatoxicosis due to nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and convulsions. Good agricultural practices, control of plant diseases, and favourable storage conditions can limit AF contamination yet do not guarantee complete elimination. Looking for an effective technique to reduce AF to an acceptable regulatory limit has been a great subject among researchers. Physical methods like manual visual sorting, screening, density, roasting, dehulling, winnowing, and decortication can reduce AF contamination while maintaining the quality of the kernel and render the kernels harmless to humans and animals compared to AF degradation by chemicals. Therefore, the present review article found that physical removal/visual sorting efficiently lowered the mean AF content commonly used in low-income countries. We briefly enumerated the effectiveness of various common physical methods in reducing post-harvest AF contamination in groundnuts, particularly their percentage AF reduction and outsort/loss, sufficient AF reduction evidence, feasibility, and scalability. We also highlighted the merits and demerits of these methods and essential information that could be helpful for further investigation.

Astellolides R-W, Drimane-Type Sesquiterpenoids from an Aspergillus parasiticus Strain Associated with an Isopod.

Sesquiterpenoids with a cage-like multiring frame are rarely found in nature. Mining of the isopod-derived fungus Aspergillus parasiticus SDU001 by the one strain-many compounds (OSMAC) strategy unexpectedly led to the discovery of fungal drimane-type sesquiterpenoids astellolide R (1), featuring an unusual cage-like 6/6/5/6/5 pentacyclic ring system, astellolide S (2), possessing a rare nicotinic acid building block, and astellolides T-W (3-6). Their structures were comprehensively assigned by spectroscopic data analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and electronic circular dichroism calculations. Furthermore, compounds 3 and 5 exhibited anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the lipopolyssacharide-induced NO production in RAW264.7 macrophages with IC50 values of 6.1 ± 0.8 and 6.8 ± 0.8 μM, respectively. A putative biosynthetic pathway for 1 is proposed. Our results enlarge the chemical space of the drimane-type sesquiterpenoids generated from endophytic fungi.

Comparative bioactive compounds and antifungal potential evaluation of Mentha longifolia (L.) Hudson (Lamiaceae) extracts against plant pathogenic fungi

The present study was design to evaluate the Mentha longifolia stem, flower and leaves infusion, decoction and hydroalcoholic extracts to determine the bioactive molecules and antifungal activities by zone of inhibition technique, Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were assay by broth dilution technique and spore germination assay using Light Compound Microscope against plant pathogenic fungi (Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus parasiticus, Rhizoctonia solani and Alternaria alternata). The Mentha longifolia phytochemicals were found in the range flavonoids 3.8 - 2.4%, saponins were 5.6-3.4%, alkaloids 0.7-0.1% and total phenolic were 40-15 mg Gallic acid/g. The maximum zone of inhibition 23±1 mm and 22±1 mm were found by hydroalcoholic leaves extract against Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus parasiticus respectively. The MIC range of hydroalcoholic were 12.5-100 mg/mL, infusion were 25-100 mg/mL and decoction were 25-200 mg/mL. While MFC range of hydroalcoholic were 25-200 mg/mL, infusion were 50- 200 mg/mL and decoction were 50-200 mg/mL. Spore germination assay reaveled that increse in the extract concenetration decrese the spore germination. The results revealed that Mentha longifolia chemical composition might be build up as latent bio- fungicides against plant pathogenic fungi.

Studying the Inhibitory Effect of Cinnamon and Ginger Aqueous Extracts Against Rice-Associated Fungi that Produce Aflatoxin

The studying included testing the inhibitory activity of the aqueous extracts of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zylanicum) and ginger (Zingibero fficinale) at three concentrations (50, 100 and 200 mgL-1) on the aflatoxin-producing fungi (Aspergillus lavus and Aspergillus parasiticus) isolated from rice used for daily consumption in Iraq as well as the studying of possibility of reducing the aflatoxins after treating the fungal isolates with aqueous extract of medicinal plants. The studying showed the possibility of isolating and diagnosing three genera of fungi using phenotypic and microscopic characteristics based on taxonomic keys. The results showed the presence of three species of Aspergillus (A. flavus, A. parasiticus and A. niger), in addition to the Penicillium spp. and Fusarium spp. at different appearance rates. Also, the results revealed that the aqueous extract of cinnamon and ginger had inhibitory activity against the aflatoxin producing fungi at a concentration of 200 mgL-1 and that the fungal diameter of the inhibition area was 22 mm for both A. flavus and A. parasiticus.

The Characteristic, Occurrence of Aflatoxin and Associated Risk with Human Health

Aflatoxins are toxins produced by the fungus Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus. They are colorless, cannot be detected under normal light, odorless and contaminated foods most often do not have any special or bad smell. Environmental factors such as the temperature, and vectors causing grain damage have an important effect on favoring the colonization of fungus and the production of aflatoxins. They contaminate agriculture products worldwide affecting their quality, safety & security. The effects on safety & security cause health threats among people and animals on their long-term exposure through consumption because they are mutagenic, teratogenic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic. Humans and animals can develop the disease known as aflatoxicosis as a result of aflatoxins known as Acute and Chronic primary aflatoxicosis. Aflatoxins' long-term effects have been shown to decrease normal immune response also it can cause growth retardation in babies and affect nutritional deficiency. It can disrupt such enzymes that can affect hormones, endocrine glands, and neurotransmitters which may influence a person's cognitive abilities, memory, and learning, restlessness, muscular tremors, seizures, absentmindedness, tremors, uncoordinated movement of muscles, and aberrant agitation are caused by deficiencies in the neurotransmitters. Aflatoxin toxicity in humans can range from acute or chronic conditions to liver damage such as liver carcinoma, internal bleeding, edema, and instant death. Acute toxicosis can cause gastrointestinal dysfunctions in humans and animals. Aflatoxins have been shown to have detrimental negative impacts on vascular fragility and cardiovascular health, tissue bleeding, and teratogenic consequences. According to reports, aflatoxins have severe and detrimental impacts mostly on the respiratory systems it can also cause lung cancer.

Inhibition of Pathogenic Bacteria and Fungi by Natural Phenoxazinone from Octopus Ommochrome Pigments.

Cephalopods, in particular octopus (Octopus vulgaris), have the ability to alter their appearance or body pattern by showing a wide range of camouflage by virtue of their chromatophores, which contain nanostructured granules of ommochrome pigments. Recently, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of ommochromes have become of great interest; therefore, in this study, the pH-dependent redox effect of the extraction solvent on the antioxidant potential and the structural characterization of the pigments were evaluated. Cell viability was determined by the microdilution method in broth by turbidity, MTT, resazurin, as well as fluorescence microscopy kit assays. A Live/Dead Double Staining Kit and an ROS Kit were used to elucidate the possible inhibitory mechanisms of ommochromes against bacterial and fungal strains. The results obtained revealed that the redox state alters the color changes of the ommochromes and is dependent on the pH in the extraction solvent. Natural phenoxazinone (ommochromes) is moderately toxic to the pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella Typhimurium and Candida albicans, while the species Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas fluorescens, and the filamentous fungi Aspergillus parasiticus, Alternaria spp. and Fusarium verticillioides, were tolerant to these pigments. UV/visible spectral scanning and Fourier- transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) suggest the presence of reduced ommatin in methanol/ HCl extract with high intrinsic fluorescence.

Relationship between the Antifungal Activity of Chitosan-Capsaicin Nanoparticles and the Oxidative Stress Response on Aspergillus parasiticus.

The fungus Aspergillus parasiticus is a contaminant in agricultural crops and its eradication involves the indiscriminate use of harmful synthetic pesticides. In the search for antifungal agents of natural origin, chitosan (Q) and capsaicin (C) are coupled in the form of nanoparticles (Np), which can possess a direct application under specific conditions. Due to their small size, Np can cross through the cell wall, taking the cells into a pro-oxidant environment known as “oxidative stress”, which presents when the reactive oxygen species (ROS) surpass the number of antioxidants in the cell. In the present investigation, nanoparticles of chitosan (Np Q) and nanoparticles of chitosan-capsaicin (Np QC) with an average diameter of 44.8 ± 20.6 nm and 111.1 ± 14.1 nm, respectively, were synthesized, and there was a zeta potential of + 25.6 ± 0.7 mV and + 26.8 ± 6.1 mV, respectively. The effect of the concentration of Np Q (A, B, C, and D), of Np QC (A, B, C, and D), and capsaicin in a solution (control) was evaluated on the viability of the spores, the accumulation of intracellular ROS, and the morphometric changes of A. parasiticus. Acute toxicity of the Np was determined utilizing bioassays with Artemia salina, and acute phytotoxicity was evaluated in lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa). According to ROS results, capsaicin (control) did not induce oxidative stress in the cell; otherwise, it was observed to have an elevated (p < 0.05) accumulation of ROS when the concentration of Np Q increased. For both, Np Q and Np QC, an inverse physiological pattern relating spore viability and ROS accumulation in the fungus was found; the viability of spores decreased as the ROS accumulation increased. The spore viability of A. parasiticus diminished upon increasing the concentration of chitosan (0.3–0.4 mg/mL) in the Np, while the intracellular accumulation of ROS increased proportionally to the concentration of the nanomaterials in the treatments of Np Q and Np QC. On the other hand, Np QC presented a lower (p < 0.05) toxicological effect in comparison with Np Q, which indicates that the incorporation of bioactive compounds, such as capsaicin, into nanoparticles of chitosan is a strategy that permits the reduction of the toxicity associated with nanostructured materials.

Whole-Transcriptome Analysis of Non-Coding RNA Alteration in Porcine Alveolar Macrophage Exposed to Aflatoxin B1.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a type of mycotoxin produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus and is commonly found in cereals, oils and foodstuffs. In order to understand the toxic effects of AFB1 exposure on Porcine alveolar macrophages (3D4/2 cell), the 3D4/2 cells were exposed to 40 μg/mL AFB1 for 24 h in vitro, and several methods were used for analysis. Edu and TUNEL analysis showed that the proliferation of 3D4/2 cells was significantly inhibited and the apoptosis of 3D4/2 cells was significantly induced after AFB1 exposure compared with that of the control group. Whole-transcriptome analysis was performed to reveal the non-coding RNA alteration in 3D4/2 cells after AFB1 exposure. It was found that the expression of cell-cycle-related and apoptosis-related genes was altered after AFB1 exposure, and lncRNAs and miRNAs were also significantly different among the experimental groups. In particular, AFB1 exposure affected the expression of lncRNAs associated with cellular senescence signaling pathways, such as MSTRG.24315 and MSTRG.80767, as well as related genes, Cxcl8 and Gadd45g. In addition, AFB1 exposure affected the expression of miRNAs associated with immune-related genes, such as miR-181a, miR-331-3p and miR-342, as well as immune-related genes Nfkb1 and Rras2. Moreover, the regulation networks between mRNA-miRNAs and mRNA-lncRNAs were confirmed by the results of RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence. In conclusion, our results here demonstrate that AFB1 exposure impaired proliferation of 3D4/2 cells via the non-coding RNA-mediated pathway.

Comparative assessment of the fate and toxicity of chemically and biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles to juvenile clams

Nanoparticles (NPs) can be produced via physical, chemical, or biological approaches. Yet, the impact of the synthesis approaches on the environmental fate and effects of NPs is poorly understood. Here, we synthesized AgNPs through chemical and biological approaches (cit-AgNPs and bio-AgNPs), characterized their properties, and toxicities relative to commercially available Ag nanopowder (np-AgNPs) to the clam Mercenaria mercenaria. The chemical synthesis is based on the reduction of ionic silver using sodium borohydride as a reducing agent and trisodium citrate as a capping agent. The biological synthesis is based on the reduction of ionic silver using biomolecules extracted from an atoxigenic strain of a filamentous fungus Aspergillus parasiticus. The properties of AgNPs were determined using UV–vis, dynamic light scattering, laser Doppler electrophoresis, (single particle)-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and asymmetric flow-field flow fractionation. Both chemical and biological synthesis approaches generated spherical AgNPs. The chemical synthesis produced AgNPs with narrower size distributions than those generated through biological synthesis. The polydispersity of bio-AgNPs decreased with increases in cell free extract (CFE):Ag ratios. The magnitude of the zeta potential of the cit-AgNPs was higher than those of bio-AgNPs. All AgNPs formed aggregates in the test media i.e., natural seawater. Based on the same total Ag concentrations, all AgNPs were less toxic than AgNO3. The toxicity of AgNPs toward the juvenile clam, Mercenaria mercenaria, decreased following the order np-AgNPs > cit-AgNPs > bio-AgNPs. Expressed as a function of dissolved Ag concentrations, the toxicity of Ag decreased following the order cit-AgNPs > bio-AgNPs > AgNO3 ~ np-AgNPs. Therefore, the toxicity of AgNP suspensions can be attributed to a combined effect of dissolved and particulate Ag forms. These results indicate that AgNP synthesis methods determine their environmental and biological behaviors and should be considered for a more comprehensive environmental risk assessment of AgNPs.

Aflatoxin B1 Induced Structural and Conformational Changes in Bovine Serum Albumin: A Multispectroscopic and Circular Dichroism-Based Study.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a mutagen that has been categorized as a group 1 human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. It is produced as a secondary metabolite by soil fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Here, in this study, the effect of AFB1 on the structure and conformation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) using multispectroscopic tools like fluorescence spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, and circular dichroism spectropolarimetry has been ascertained. Ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy revealed hyperchromicity in the absorption spectra of BSA in the presence of AFB1. The binding constant was calculated in the range of 104 M–1, by fluorescence spectroscopy suggesting moderate binding of the toxin to BSA. The study also confirms the static nature of fluorescence quenching. The stoichiometry of binding sites was found to be unity. The competing capability of warfarin for AFB1 was higher than ibuprofen as calculated from site marker displacement assay. Förster resonance energy transfer confirmed the high efficiency of energy transfer from BSA to AFB1. Circular dichroism spectropolarimetry showed a decrease in the α-helix in BSA in the presence of AFB1. The melting temperature of BSA underwent an increment in the presence of a mycotoxin from 62.5 to 70.3 °C. Molecular docking confirmed the binding of AFB1 to subdomain IIA in BSA.

Estimation of Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) for Immunological Effects of Aflatoxin.

Aflatoxins are toxic chemicals produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. In warm climates, these fungi frequently contaminate crops such as maize, peanuts, tree nuts, and sunflower seeds. In many tropical and subtropical regions of the world, populations are coexposed to dietary aflatoxin and multiple infectious pathogens in food, water, and the environment. There is increasing evidence that aflatoxin compromises the immune system, which could increase infectious disease risk in vulnerable populations. Our aim was to conduct a dose-response assessment on a noncarcinogenic endpoint of aflatoxin: immunotoxicological effects. We sought to determine a noncarcinogenic tolerable daily intake (TDI) of aflatoxin, based on the existing data surrounding aflatoxin and biomarkers of immune suppression. To conduct the dose response assessment, mammalian studies were assessed for appropriateness of doses (relevant to potential human exposures) as well as goodness of data, and two appropriate mouse studies that examined decreases in leukocyte counts were selected to generate dose response curves. From these, we determined benchmark dose lower confidence limits (BMDL) as points of departure to estimate a range of TDIs for aflatoxin-related immune impairment: 0.017-0.082 μg/kg bw/day. As aflatoxin is a genotoxic carcinogen, and regulations concerning its presence in food have largely focused on its carcinogenic effects, international risk assessment bodies such as the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) have never established a TDI for aflatoxin. Our work highlights the importance of the noncarcinogenic effects of aflatoxin that may have broader public health impacts, to inform regulatory standard-setting.

Synthesis, Characterization and Evaluation of fungial Activity of Copper(II) and Cobalt(II) Complexes with Imine Glutaraldehyde Derivatives.

Two metal compolexes have been prepared throughout the reaction of copper(II) and cobalt(II) salts with the bidentate Schiff base synthesized from the reaction of two moles of o-toluidine and one mole of glutaraldehyde. These metal complexes have been characterized using physico-chemical techniques such as 1H-NMR, FTIR, Atomic Absorption A.A, CHN, UV-Vis spectra, magnatic susceptibility and conductivity measurements. The obtained results showed good agrrement with theoratical data and the geometry of both metal complexes was octagonal geometry. The biological activity have been tested using two types of fungus Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus parasiticus. Both metal complexes showed good activity against these two types of fumgus. Furthermore, antifungial activity of the synthesised metal complexes was better than antifungal drugs, Nystatin and Griseofulvin, which are used to treat both types of fungus.

Protective and therapeutic effects of sildenafil and tadalafil on aflatoxin B1-induced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been classified as one of the most common forms of liver cancer occurring worldwide, and risk factors include hepatitis B & C virus, alcoholism, and dietary carcinogens like aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), which is produced by fungus Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Metabolism of AFB1 resulted into the formation of AFB1-exo-8, 9-epoxide which is largely responsible for HCC development. So far conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy has not provided much benefit in HCC, necessitating the need for newer treatment modalities. Recent reports suggest that phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i) may have anticancer activity, but till date, the anticancer property of PDE5i (tadalafil & sildenafil) has not been evaluated in HCC. The present study was aimed to define the anticancer property of tadalafil and sildenafil against AFB1-induced HCC rats. Rats were randomly divided into five groups with five rats in each group. Except normal control group, rats of all other groups were fed with 5% alcohol via drinking water for 3weeks. After 3weeks, two successive dose of AFB1 (1mg/kg bw, ip) was administered on subsequent days followed by the administration of PDE5i (tadalafil & sildenafil, 10mg/kg bw) along with drinking water after 6weeks of treatment with AFB1 for 2weeks. An in-depth investigation into its mechanistic aspect revealed that development of HCC induced by aflatoxin B1, decreased the mRNA expression and activity of antioxidant enzyme SOD, GPx, catalase, GR and GST, and GSH content with a concomitant increase in the level of lipid peroxidation. Post-treatment with PDE5 inhibitor (tadalafil & sildenafil) restored the above parameters towards normal, and this result was more effective in case of sildenafil. Thus, results from the above studies suggest that PDE5 inhibitors may act as anticancer agents by preventing the development and progression of HCC by modulating the key parameters of antioxidant pathway.

Detection of Aflatoxins in Different Matrices and Food-Chain Positions.

Aflatoxins, produced mainly by filamentous fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, are one of the most carcinogenic compounds that have adverse health effects on both humans and animals consuming contaminated food and feed, respectively. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and aflatoxin B2 (AFB2) as well as aflatoxin G1(AFG1) and aflatoxin G2 (AFG2) occur in the contaminated foods and feed. In the case of dairy ruminants, after the consumption of feed contaminated with aflatoxins, aflatoxin metabolites [aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and aflatoxin M2 (AFM2)] may appear in milk. Because of the health risk and the official maximum limits of aflatoxins, there is a need for application of fast and accurate testing methods. At present, there are several analytical methods applied in practice for determination of aflatoxins. The aim of this review is to provide a guide that summarizes worldwide aflatoxin regulations and analytical methods for determination of aflatoxins in different food and feed matrices, that helps in the decision to choose the most appropriate method that meets the practical requirements of fast and sensitive control of their contamination. Analytical options are outlined from the simplest and fastest methods with the smallest instrument requirements, through separation methods, to the latest hyphenated techniques.

Aflatoxin AFM1, safety and milk quality

Summary. Mycotoxins exert a negative effect on large horned cattle through a decrease in feed intake. Extreme drought conditions during the cultivation and harvest of crops included in the diet of cows can lead to a dangerous increase in the concentration of aflatoxin B1, a highly toxic and carcinogenic substance from the group of mycotoxins from microscopic fungi Aspergillus, mainly Aspergillusflavus and Aspergillusparasiticus. As a result, milk will be contaminated with aflatoxin M1 (AFM1). In LLC AF Khutorok Timashevsky District Krasnodar Territory in an experiment on dairy cows with the inclusion of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contaminated feed in the diet, established the minimum dose of aflatoxin B1 in feed in the amount of 2 mg / head per day. The minimum amount of aflatoxin B1 in the diet caused the appearance of a secondary metabolite - aflatoxin M1 in cow's milk. Aflatoxin M1, formed in the body of dairy cows by a metabolic route from aflatoxin B1 introduced with food, was excreted in milk for 72 hours. It was found that with the addition of a broad spectrum mycotoxin adsorbent based on glucans of the cell wall of yeast and algae to the diet, the AFM1 content in milk decreased (on average by 60%). In addition, when this adsorbent was added to diets, the average level of AFM1 in milk was 3 times lower compared to the control. The rate of excretion of AFM1 from the body of cows was determined. Its maximum amount of 0.15800 mcg / kg was excreted in milk during the third day from the last summer AFV1. When storing grain fodder, the content of mycotoxins should be determined and a constant analysis should be carried out according to microbiological safety indicators.

Aflatoxin B1 Quantitative Analysis in Red Peppers for Consumption in Kayseri Using Immunoassay Enzyme (EIA)

Aflatoxins (AF) are extremely toxic and carcinogenic compounds and are metabolites of mold fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Food and feed can be contaminated with these molds during harvest, storage, processing and marketing. In this study, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in 50 red pepper samples sold in Kayseri was analyzed by EIA method. The presence of AFB1 was found in all of the samples. AFB1 values were determined in the range of 1.48-70.05 ppb. It was determined that three of the red pepper samples (6.0%) had AFB1 higher than the level allowed in spices (5 ppb) according to the Turkish Food Codex Regulation.

Prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts in Pune city

Background: Aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts is caused by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. In this study, the prevalence of aflatoxin B1 in groundnuts has been assessed. Aflatoxins are highly carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic. They are known to cause hepatocellular toxicity. The aim of the study is to estimate prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts sold in the city of Pune and to assess the awareness about aflatoxin contamination amongst shopkeepers of selected shops/vendors.Methods: Sampling of groundnuts was conducted in 17 out of 144 administrative wards of Pune city. Hundred samples weighing 250g each were purchased from the randomly selected stores and transported in black polythene bags to The State Public Health Laboratory, Pune. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) was used by the laboratory to determine levels of aflatoxin B1. A pre-structured questionnaire was used for assessment of knowledge of aflatoxin contamination amongst vendors.Results: Out of 100 samples, four samples were contaminated with aflatoxin. However the maximum contamination was 0.6 parts per billion, which is well within the permissible limit of 30 parts per billion. Awareness of aflatoxin contamination amongst vendors was six percent. Ninety four percent of vendors were unaware of the concept of aflatoxin contamination.Conclusions: It is necessary to educate vendors, suppliers and handlers about the health hazards caused by this toxic fungus for the benefit of the average consumer.

A rapid and reliable method for the specific detection of aflatoxigenic fungi in groundnut and rice samples

Aflatoxin contamination is a serious food safety and economic concern for the agriculture and processing industry throughout the world. Aflatoxins are the most potent carcinogens; therefore, an early detection of aflatoxin‐producing fungi is essential for ensuring food safety. In the present work, a rapid and sensitive PCR method for the detection of potential aflatoxin‐producing molds in groundnut and rice samples was developed. This PCR assay can detect the aflatoxigenic fungi in the contaminated samples directly without the need of fungal enrichment. The results showed a specific PCR amplification product in aflatoxigenic fungi (Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus) contaminated groundnut and rice samples even at a low spore count. In contrast, no amplification products were observed in nonaflatoxigenic fungi (Aspergillus oryzae) contaminated samples as well as in healthy groundnut and rice samples. Quantification of aflatoxins for the validation corelated well with the amplified DNA bands for aflatoxigenic fungal samples. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The present paper describes a rapid and reliable PCR method for the detection of potential aflatoxin‐producing molds in groundnut and rice samples. The developed method is sensitive and rapid, as it detects the aflatoxigenic fungi in the contaminated samples directly without the need of fungal enrichment. The developed method is sensitive because this process detects the fungal infestation at a concentration as low as 10² spores/g. This method can be used to detect the presence of aflatoxigenic fungi specifically, even before the production of aflatoxin to ensure food safety.

Identifikasi Kontaminasi Aflatoksin pada Rempah-Rempah yang Dijual di Sentra Pasar di Kabupaten Jember

Aflatoxin is a secondary metabolite of the fungus Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, the toxin is able to cause health problems in humans and animals that suffer sympthom of aflatoxin called mycotoxicosis. Both types of fungus can survive at optimally temperature of 36-38oC and moisture above 85%. Aspergillus species may contaminated some foods such as wheat, rice, corn, beans, chilies, and spices. Aflatoxin have six types, namely Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2, M1 and M2. AFB1 is the most toxic among the six types of aflatoxin, it’s induce cancer by affecting Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) genetic code. The aim of this research was to analyze the types and levels of aflatoxin especially spices that provided in the traditional market and supermarkets in Jember area. This research design is experimental analytic. The population is spices that belong in all of traditional markets and supermarkets in Jember area. The sample is certain spices (onion, turmeric, pepper) in the 3 traditional markets and 3 supermarkets selected by purposive sampling techniques. This research was done at Central Laboratory Agro Industry Bogor on July – September 2019. The variable of this research is aflatoxin contamination inside of spices. Aflatoxin analytic performed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) instruments. The results of this research showed that found some of samples that has been analyzed, the samples of pepper (C4) was taken in Supermarket ‘X’ has the highest contaminated aflatoxin B1 was 45,35 ppb and aflatoxin G1 was 50,74 ppb. Therefore, its recommended for Supermarket is to increased monitoring of temperature and humidity, especially at the storage of spices.Keyword: Aflatoxin, Fungus, Traditional Market, Spices, Supermarket