Abstract

Aflatoxins are difuranocoumarin derivatives produced by some Aspergillus species through a polyketide pathway. Mycotoxins are considered hazardous and there is a need for accurate detection of each toxin. Several screening methods for direct visual determination of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A (OTA) production have been reported. These methods rely on using different types of coconut culture media, methylated β-cyclodextrin and ammonium hydroxide vapour tests. However, our results showed that use of these techniques were not sufficiently sensitive for allAspergillus species and suggested a simple thin layer chromatography (TLC) as a sensitive and reliable technique for detection of aflatoxins and OTA produced byAspergillus and Eurotium species.

Key words: Aspergillus, Eurotium, Mycotoxins detection, thin layer chromatography.

Abbreviation

Abbreviations: OTA, Ochratoxin A; CA, coconut agar; YES, yeast extract sucrose;TLC, thin layer chromatography; HPLC, high performance liquid chromatography;HPTLC, high performance thin layer chromatography; CYA, Czapek yeast agar;MEA, malt extract agar; CAM, coconut agar medium; CMA, coconut milk agar.