Methods for Detection of Aflatoxins in Agricultural Food Crops
Open Access
- 13 November 2014
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Hindawi Limited in Journal of Applied Chemistry
- Vol. 2014, 1-15
- https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/706291
Abstract
Aflatoxins are toxic carcinogenic secondary metabolites produced predominantly by two fungal species: Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. These fungal species are contaminants of foodstuff as well as feeds and are responsible for aflatoxin contamination of these agro products. The toxicity and potency of aflatoxins make them the primary health hazard as well as responsible for losses associated with contaminations of processed foods and feeds. Determination of aflatoxins concentration in food stuff and feeds is thus very important. However, due to their low concentration in foods and feedstuff, analytical methods for detection and quantification of aflatoxins have to be specific, sensitive, and simple to carry out. Several methods including thin-layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectroscopy, enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA), and electrochemical immunosensor, among others, have been described for detecting and quantifying aflatoxins in foods. Each of these methods has advantages and limitations in aflatoxins analysis. This review critically examines each of the methods used for detection of aflatoxins in foodstuff, highlighting the advantages and limitations of each method. Finally, a way forward for overcoming such obstacles is suggested.Keywords
Funding Information
- International Development Research Centre
This publication has 77 references indexed in Scilit:
- Preparation of an Immunoaffinity Column with Amino-Silica Gel Microparticles and Its Application in Sample Cleanup for Aflatoxin Detection in Agri-ProductsMolecules, 2013
- Optical Waveguide Lightmode Spectroscopy (OWLS) as a Sensor for Thin Film and Quantum Dot CorrosionSensors, 2012
- Biosensing Technologies forMycobacterium tuberculosisDetection: Status and New DevelopmentsJournal of Immunology Research, 2011
- Electrochemical Immunosensor Based on Polythionine/Gold Nanoparticles for the Determination of Aflatoxin B1Sensors, 2008
- Biosensors and multiple mycotoxin analysisFood Control, 2003
- Investigation of various extractants for the analysis of aflatoxin B1in different food and feed matricesFood Additives & Contaminants, 1999
- Mycotoxin methodologyFood Additives & Contaminants, 1995
- Fungal flora and mycotoxins of six kinds of nut seeds for human consumption in Saudi ArabiaMycopathologia, 1993
- Analytical-scale supercritical fluid extraction of aflatoxin B1 from field-inoculated cornJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 1993
- Coupling of enzymes to proteins with glutaraldehyde: Use of the conjugates for the detection of antigens and antibodiesImmunochemistry, 1969