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PubMed1976

Determination of aflatoxins in groundnut meals by high performance liquid chromatography.

A method for determination of aflatoxins in groundnut meals by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was investigated. After extraction and purification according to the AOAC "CB" method, an extract is injected on a Corasil II column and eluted by n-hexane/chloroform/ethanol (50+49.7+0.3), Detection is performed with an UV detector. The developed method makes it possible to determine aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2. The detection limit for aflatoxin B1 is 50 p.p.b. using a 254-nm UV detector, or less with more effective detectors (absorption at 350-360 nm).

Aflatoxins↗

PubMed1976

A chemical assay method for the determination of aflatoxin residues in animal tissues.

A method is presented for the determination of aflatoxins in animal tissues. It consists of extraction of aflatoxins from the sample with methanol, treatment of the residue with a mixture of dimethoxymethane-methanol (4+1) to further precipitate proteins, evaporation of dimethoxymethane followed by a liquid-liquid defatting with hexane and heating of the methanol-water mixture before the transfer of aflatoxins into chloroform. Chloroform extracts are further purified by silica gel--acidic alumina--anhydrous sodium sulfate column chromatography.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1977

[Thermal stability of aflatoxin M1 (author's transl)].

Aflatoxin M1 was added to Emmental hard cheese which was used for the production of processed cheese. The melting times at about 90 degrees C varied between 3 and 30 min. The analysis of the corresponding processed cheeses yielded a recovery of about 91% aflatoxin M1 on average. This means, that the aflatoxin M1 present in the hard cheese is essentially not destroyed during the production of processed cheese.

Aflatoxins↗

PubMed1977

[Determination of aflatoxins in milk and milk products (author's transl)].

During the period from September 1972 till December 1974 260 samples of milk, 41 of milk powder, 54 of yoghurt, 80 of fresh cheese, 65 of camembert, 77 of hard cheese and 134 of processed cheese were investigated for their contents of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2, and M1. In all products containing toxin only aflatoxin M1 could be detected. The average values of aflatoxin M1 concentration during the period of investigation amounted to: 0.07 microng/1 for milk, 0.50 microng/kg for milk powder, 0.20 microng/kg for yoghurt, 0.23 microng/kg for fresh cheese, 0.43 microng/kg for hard cheese, 0.26 microng/kg for processed cheese, and 0.31 microng/kg for camembert. As maximum values the following concentrations were found: milk 0.33 microng/1, milk powder 2.0 microng/kg, yoghurt 0.47 microng/kg, fresh cheese 0.51 microng/kg, camembert 0.73 microng/kg, hard cheese 1.3 microng/kg, and processed cheese 0.55 microng/kg.

Aflatoxins↗

PubMed1975

Fluorescence changes of aflatoxins B1 and G1.

The effects of various factors, such as pH, buffer, sodiumchloride and ultra-violet radiation on the fluorescence of aflatoxins B1 and G1 have been studied. The fluorescence characteristics of aflatoxins B1 and G1 underwent a marked change at pH values above 7.2. Prolonged exposure to ultra-violet radiation lead to some degradation of aflatoxins and the extent of degradation was dependent upon the nature of the solvent. Sodium chloride partially protected the toxins from degradation by ultra-violet radiation or alkaline conditions.

Aflatoxins↗

PubMed1978

Modification of hepatotoxic effects of aflatoxin B1 in rabbits by immunization.

Reduction of acute toxic effect of aflatoxin B1 was achieved by immunizing the rabbits with small amounts of bovine serum albumin-aflatoxin B1 conjugate. Rabbits after immunization showed lower mortality, near normal serum isocitric dehydrogenase activity, no abnormality in livers when challenged with a single dose of aflatoxin B1. The results suggest that immunization might be used prophylactically against aflatoxicosis.

Aflatoxins↗

PubMed1996

Aflatoxin formation and varietal difference of cow pea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) and garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivars.

Different cultivars of cow pea and garden pea seeds were surveyed for susceptibility or resistance towards the toxigenic and aflatoxin-producing mould (Aspergillus flavus IMI 102135). The results show that aflatoxin production varied among the different cultivars of both cow pea and garden pea. Morphological and histological characters of the different cultivars tested did not show any relation between colour, shape and size of seeds and the amount of aflatoxin produced. The chemical analysis of the different constituents obtained from both seed coats and seed kernels with susceptible, partially resistant and resistant cow pea and garden pea cultivars revealed that the resistant cultivars of cow pea (namely: Balady cultivar) and garden pea (namely: Melting Sugar cultivar) contained lower levels of sodium and higher levels of phosphate and potassium.

Aflatoxins↗

PubMed2002

Characterization of a partial duplication of the aflatoxin gene cluster in Aspergillus parasiticus ATCC 56775.

A partial duplication of the complete aflatoxin gene cluster containing homologues of aflR-aflJ-adhA-estA-norA-ver1and omtB was identified from Aspergillus parasiticus ATCC 56775. The genes, verA-avnA-verB-avfA, between ver1 and omtB in the complete gene cluster, however, were not found. One-hybrid assays showed that the duplicated aflRgene ( aflR2) encoded a protein that could activate transcription just as that encoded by aflR1,the aflR gene in the complete gene cluster. Two-hybrid assays showed that AFLR2 also interacted with a putative coactivator, AFLJ1, at comparable levels to AFLR1. Deletion of aflR1 resulted in the loss of production of aflatoxin precursors, which suggested that aflR2could not completely replace the function of aflR1. Point mutations found in adhA2, pre-termination in ver1B and norA2,and a large deletion in omtB2 probably render these duplicated genes to become nonfunctional. A close examination of the history of isolates reported to have a partial duplication suggested that duplication of the aflatoxin cluster is not a prevalent event.

Aflatoxins↗

PubMed2004

Examination of fungal stress response genes using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model system: targeting genes affecting aflatoxin biosynthesis by Aspergillus flavus Link.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae served as a model fungal system to examine functional genomics of oxidative stress responses and reactions to test antioxidant compounds. Twenty-two strains of S. cerevisiae, including a broad spectrum of singular gene deletion mutants, were exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to examine phenotypic response to oxidative stress. Responses of particular mutants treated with gallic, tannic or caffeic acids, or methyl gallate, during H2O2 exposure, indicated that these compounds alleviated oxidative stress. These compounds are also potent inhibitors of aflatoxin biosynthesis in Aspergillus flavus. To gain further insights into a potential link between oxidative stress and aflatoxin biosynthesis, 43 orthologs of S. cerevisiae genes involved in gene regulation, signal transduction (e.g., SHO1, HOG1, etc.) and antioxidation (e.g., CTT1, CTA1, etc.) were identified in an A. flavus expressed sequence tag library. A successful exemplary functional complementation of an antioxidative stress gene from A. flavus, mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (sodA), in a sod2Delta yeast mutant further supported the potential of S. cerevisiae deletion mutants to serve as a model system to study A. flavus. Use of this system to further examine functional genomics of oxidative stress in aflatoxigenesis and reduction of aflatoxin biosynthesis by antioxidants is discussed.

Aflatoxins↗

PubMed2006

Production of cyclopiazonic acid, aflatrem, and aflatoxin by Aspergillus flavus is regulated by veA, a gene necessary for sclerotial formation.

The plant pathogenic fungus Aspergillus flavus produces several types of mycotoxins. The most well known are the carcinogenic compounds called aflatoxins. In addition, A. flavus produces cyclopiazonic acid and aflatrem mycotoxins, contributing to the toxicity of A. flavus infected crops. Cyclopiazonic acid is a specific inhibitor of calcium-dependent ATPase in the sarcoplasmic reticulum that results in altered cellular Ca++ levels. Aflatrem is a potent tremorgenic mycotoxin known to lead to neurological disorders. Previously we showed that a gene called veA controls aflatoxin and sclerotial production in A. parasiticus. In this study in A. flavus, we show that the veA homolog in A. flavus not only is necessary for the production of aflatoxins B1 and B2 and sclerotia, but also regulates the synthesis of the mycotoxins cyclopiazonic acid and aflatrem. The A. flavus DeltaveA mutant was completely blocked in the production of aflatrem and showed greater than twofold decrease in cyclopiazonic acid production. The genes involved in the synthesis of cyclopiazonic acid are unknown; however, the aflatrem gene cluster has been characterized. Northern hybridization analysis showed that veA is required for expression of the A. flavus aflatrem genes atmC, atmG, and atmM. This is the first report of a regulatory gene governing the production of cyclopiazonic acid and aflatrem mycotoxins.

Aflatoxins↗

PubMed2005

Co-occurrence of aflatoxin B(1) and cyclopiazonic acid in sour lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) during post-harvest pathogenesis by Aspergillus flavus.

During hot and humid seasons, extensive rot of sour lime was observed to be caused by Aspergillus flavus. In view of this, investigations were undertaken to obtain data on the production of various toxins by A. flavus during post harvest pathogenesis of sour lime. Sixty percent of the pathogenic A. flavus isolates were detected to be aflatoxin B(1) producers in sour lime tissue. It was also noted that thirty three percent of aflatoxigenic A. flavus isolates had the potential to coproduce cyclopiazonic acid (CPA). Such aflatoxigenic isolates produced quantitatively more CPA (ranging from 250.0 to 2501.3 microg/kg) than aflatoxin B(1) (ranging from 141.3 to 811.7 microg/kg) in the affected sour lime. This study demonstrates for the first time that sour lime are a favourable substrate for aflatoxin B(1) and cyclopiazonic acid production by A. flavus isolates. This is of great concern to the health of consumers.

Aflatoxin B1↗

PubMed2006

A survey on distribution of Aspergillus section Flavi in corn field soils in Iran: population patterns based on aflatoxins, cyclopiazonic acid and sclerotia production.

Soil isolates of Aspergillus section Flavi from Mazandaran and Semnan provinces with totally different climatic conditions in Iran were examined for aflatoxins (AFs; B and G types), cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) and sclerotia production. A total of 66 Aspergillus flavus group strains were identified from three species viz. Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus nomius in both locations. A. flavus (87.9%) was found to be the prominent species followed by A. nomius (9.1%) and A. parasiticus (3.0%). Only 27.5% of A. flavus isolates were aflatoxigenic (B(1) or B(1) and B(2)), out of which approximately 75% were capable to producing CPA. All the A. parasiticus and A. nomius isolates produced AFs of both B (B(1) and B(2)) and G (G(1) and G(2)) types, but did not produce CPA. Sclerotia production was observed in only 4 isolates of A. flavus among all 66 isolates from three identified species. A. flavus isolates were classified into various chemotypes based on the ability to produce aflatoxins and CPA. In this study, a new naturally occurring toxigenic A. flavus chemotype comprising of two strains capable of producing more AFB(2) than AFB(1) has been identified. A relatively larger proportion of aflatoxigenic A. flavus strains were isolated from corn field soils of Mazandaran province which indicate a possible relationship between high levels of relative humidity and the incidence of aflatoxin-producing fungi. The importance of incidence of Aspergillus section Flavi in corn field soils regard to their mycotoxin production profiles and crop contamination with special reference to climatic conditions is discussed.

Aflatoxins↗

PubMed2006

Impact on growth and aflatoxin B1 accumulation by Kluyveromyces isolates at different water activity conditions.

This study showed the impact on germination, mycelial growth and aflatoxin B(1) accumulation when interacting Aspergillus aflatoxigenic strains with Kluyveromyces isolates and the effect of water activity on this relationship. Isolates Y(14) and Y(16) reduced the percentage of germination of all Aspergillus strains and decrease germ tube elongation rate at majority of water activity assayed. Similarly they produced an increase of germination lag phase and lag phase of growth beside decreased growth rate of all Aspergillus strains. At water activities 0.994, 0.982, 0.955 and 0.937, no aflatoxins were produced in paired cultures with isolates Y(25,) Y(22), Y(16), and Y(14), and Kluyveromyces isolates Y(14) and Y(16) impact both growth and aflatoxin accumulation at wide range of water activity.

Aflatoxin B1↗

PubMed1992

Comparison of the aflatoxin B1-8,9-epoxide conjugating activities of two bacterially expressed alpha class glutathione S-transferase isozymes from mouse and rat.

The complementary DNAs of rat glutathione S-transferase (GST, EC 2.5.1.18) Yc1 and of mouse Yc were expressed from a prokaryotic expression vector in E. coli. The purified proteins were analyzed for their activity toward aflatoxin B1-8,9-epoxide (AFBO), the reactive intermediate of the fungal mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 (AFB). The mouse Yc isozyme had about 50-fold higher conjugating activity toward AFBO than the rat Yc1 isozyme (144 nmol/mg/min versus 3.3 nmol/mg/min). The rat Yc1 isozyme had specific activities toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, cumene hydroperoxide and ethacrynic acid of 10.7, 0.98 and 0.92 mumol/mg/min, respectively, whereas the mouse Yc isozyme had specific activities of 5.7, 2.1 and 0.1 mumol/mg/min for these substrates, respectively. These data provide further support for the hypothesis that the constitutive presence of the alpha class GST Yc isozyme in mouse liver protects mice from the hepatocarcinogenic effects of aflatoxin B1.

Aflatoxin B1↗

PubMed1992

Isolation and partial characterization of pigeon pea protease inhibitor: its effect on the genotoxic action of aflatoxin B1.

Protease inhibitor was isolated and purified from pigeon pea Cajanus capan. By using gel filtration analysis the inhibitor was found to have an Mr of 18,200. It inhibits trypsin competitively with a specific inhibitor constant Ki of 1.53 x 10(-7) M. The purified inhibitor produced a marked reduction in aflatoxin B1-induced beta-galactosidase activity in Escherichia coli PQ37. This reduction is independent of whether the protease inhibitor was added to the reaction medium prior to or after aflatoxin B1 activation. The observed reduction may therefore be a result of the inhibitor's activity on the RecA protease produced in response to aflatoxin B1-induced DNA damage in the bacteria.

Aflatoxin B1↗

PubMed1976

The relationship between the turnover of UTP and RNA synthesis in cultured cells treated with aflatoxin B1.

Methods have been adapted to measure the specific activity of UTP in cells in monolayer culture. In HeLa cells labelled with [3H]uridine and treated with aflatoxin B1 there was reduced radioactivity in crude acid extracts, but the toxin did not affect the radioactive incorporation into UTP. Using cells in which the UTP was pre-labelled, the subsequent addition of aflatoxin B1 inhibited UTP incorporation into RNA. Accordingly aflatoxin B1 did not inhibit the uptake of uridine or the latter's conversion to UTP but inhibited the incorporation of UTP into RNA.

Aflatoxins↗

PubMed1977

Aflatoxin B1, a selective inhibitor of DNA synthesis in mammalian cells.

Aflatoxin B1 in concentrations between 0.01 and 0.1 microgram/ml inhibits DNA synthesis in African green monkey cells in culture, but has little effect on RNA synthesis and no effect on protein synthesis. The drug even at concentrations up to 1.0 microgram/ml does not interfere with DNA repair promoted by ultraviolet irradiation nor does it induce DNA repair. The inhibition of DNA synthesis attains maximum values 3 h after addition of aflatoxin B1 and is irreversible upon removal of the drug. Profiles of pulselabeled DNA sedimented in alkaline sucrose gradients indicate that aflatoxin B1 blocks initiation of replication rather than elongation.

Aflatoxins↗

PubMed1996

Action of curcumin on the cytochrome P450-system catalyzing the activation of aflatoxin B1.

Curcumin, in a dose-dependent manner, inhibited the formation of covalent adduct between aflatoxin B1 and DNA, as catalyzed by microsomes or a reconstituted microsomal monooxygenase system. Its effect on the cytochrome P450-system was investigated in the latter system. The inhibition (50%) of aflatoxin B1-DNA adduct formation by curcumin in this system could be reversed by increasing the amount of cytochrome P450 but not by that of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. Curcumin inhibited the reductase activity when measured by the reduction of cytochrome C but not when measured by the reduction of dichlorophenolindophenol, an artificial electron acceptor. These results, as well as the reversal of curcumin-induced inhibition of P450 reductase activity by higher amounts of cytochrome C, indicated a strong affinity of curcumin towards cytochromes. This was further substantiated from the observation that curcumin-pretreated cytochrome P450 had reduced ability to catalyze aflatoxin B1-DNA adduct formation in the reconstituted system. Curcumin, thus, may inhibit chemical carcinogenesis by modulating cytochrome P450 function.

Aflatoxin B1↗