• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.428-432
• /
• 1999

This study was performed to investigate the possible effect of sunlight on the reduction or degradation of mycelia and aflatoxins. The mycelia and aflatoxins were produced by Aspergillus parasiticus ATCC 15517 in a yeast-extract sucrose broth (YES) and potato-dextrose agar (PDA) and then exposed to sunlight. The weight of mycelia was decreased to 76.8% in 8 hours and to 66.7% in 168 hours(p<0.05). The total aflatoxin level was significantly decreased to below 50% (46.3% in the YES broth and 49.6% in the PDA) in 8 hours (p<0.05). After 168 hours, a 90.4％ degradation of aflatoxin in the YES broth and a 77.2% degradation of aflatoxin in the PDA was observed, respectively (p<0.01). The results showed that the degradation ratios of total aflatoxin level increased with increased exposure time to sunlight. These results indicate that sunlight could be an effective factor in aflatoxin degradation although its effect on mycelia was less pronounced.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.259-264
• /
• 1985

The research was carried out for the purpose of finding effects of gerbal saponins on aflatoxin synthesis by Aspergillus parasitics NRRL 2999. A. parasiticus with $10^6$ conidia were grown at $30^{\circ}C$ for 9 days on the enriched medium that is optimum for the frowth and aflatoxins production by the mold. The inhibitory effect on the growth and aflatoxins produced by the mold occurred in the presence of 0.36% of crude red-ginseng saponin showing both the growth and aflatoxins production come to 62.3% (growth), 38.7% (aflatoxin $B_1$) and 22.9% (aflatoxin $G_1$) of the control. Thd next effective saponin to inhibit the growth and aflatoxins production was from burdock seeds. However, saponin extracted from honeysuckle flowers had no inhibitory effect. The mold caused no changes in the pH of the medium when it contained red-ginseng saponin. Red-ginseng saponin was more effective than the white-ginseng in inhibiting both the growth and aflatoxin production.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.73-80
• /
• 1977

In order to detect the occurrence of aflatoxins in some suspecious Korean foodstuffs, 54 samples of Meju (a naturally inoculated soybean substrate for soy sauce and paste fermentation), 125 samples of Doenjang (a Korean-style fermented soybean paste), both produced at household level, and 31 samples of peanut were collected from 8 major cities of South Korea and subjected to assay by the official method of AOAC. The results were as follows: 1) Frequencies for the occurrence of aflatoxins in Meju, Doenjang and peanut were 7.4%(4/54), 8.8%(11/125) and none (0/31), respectively, in which Meju and Doenjang samples from Daegu and Busan showed the high ratio of the presence. 2) A Doenjang sample from Busan was found to contain the highest content of aflatoxins, of which $B_1,\;B_2,\;G_1\;and\;G_2$ were 66 ppb, 13 ppb, non-detectable and 5 ppb, respectively, while other samples detected were for $G_2$ only. 3) The identity of aflatoxin $B_1$ isolated from the Doenjang sample from Busan was confirmed by thin-layer chromatographic behavior, derivative formation and chicken embryo bioassay.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.295-303
• /
• 1985

Aflatoxin $B_1$, $B_2$, $G_1$, and $G_2$were quantitatively detected by the high pressure liquid chromatography on a Micropak-CN column, with Hexane-THF-IPA-water, using a Lichrosorbpacked flowceil in the fluorometric detector. Under those conditions, the minimum detectable amount of aflatoxin $B_1$ was 0.2 ng. HPLC was used in determining amount of aflatoxins in the commercially manufactured soybean food and home-made Meju. Aflatoxin producing abilities of strains used in the industrially fermented soybean food were also studied with the HPLC technique. Although aflatoxin-like substances were detected in a few samples on TLC, they were not identified with the HPLC retention times of standard aflatoxins. The commercial fungal strains used in Korea had no aflatoxin producing abilities.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.169-176
• /
• 1974

In order to investigate the producibility of aflatoxins by seven Aspergillus flavus strains isolated from deteriolated rice in Korea, polished rice was artificially inoculated and subjected to isolation and quantitation of the mycotoxin. It was proved that all strains were capable of producing aflatoxins, preferentially $B_1$ but no $G_1$ at all and their producibility was closely related to the color of culture media and chloroform extracts. The strain producing the most aflatoxin was A. flavus var. columnaris, excreting 1 ppm on rice. Aflatoxin $B_1$ was isolated and identified by thin-layer chromatography, ultraviolet absorption spectra and derivative formation of water and acetate adducts.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.278-282
• /
• 2011

The objective of this study was to find useful fungi with ${\alpha}$-amylase activity from the Korean traditional nuruk for the quality of traditional Korean alcoholic beverage. In this study, 165 samples of traditional nuruk were collected from 170 regions throughout Korea and the fungi were isolated to a total of 384 strains. In order to investigate the effect of microflora on nuruk, ${\alpha}$-amylase activity, saccharogenic power (SP), starch hydrolysis activity and acid producing activity were evaluated. Ten strains were selected by ${\alpha}$-amylase activity, which ranged from 458.47 to 1,202.75 U/g. The size of the discolored zone for the starch hydrolysis activity of each fungus ranged from 0.3 to 2 cm. The SP of the 10 strains ranged from 228.8 to 433.4 SP. Of the 10 stains, three were identified as Aspergillus oryzae, two as Aspergillus flavus, two as Lichtheimia sp., one as Rhizopus oryzae and two as other strains. The total aflatoxins present in the nuruks were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The 10 nuruks had less than 1.11 ppb of aflatoxins.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.27-32
• /
• 2010

This study was conducted to monitor aflatoxins in various medicinal herbs, providing available data for the safety of those products. To monitor aflatoxins in medicinal herbs, a total of 400 samples of 40 different herbs were collected in commercial retailers in Seoul, Daejeon, Gwangju, Daegu, and Busan from March to August, 2008. The samples that passed the sensory evaluation were tested for aflatoxins. Aflatoxins in samples were analyzed by HPLC-florescence coupled with photochemical enhancement. Samples were extracted with 70% methanol and then diluted to the appropriate concentration. A refining process was performed using an immunoaffinity column. The analytical method used in this study was validated. The $R^2$ value for aflatoxin $B_1$ was 0.99946, and the detection range was from 0.25 to 10.0 ng/mL. The accuracy of the analysis was ranged from 83.2% to 101.8%. The relative standard deviation (RSD) in the aflatoxin $B_1$ analysis was 3.4%, demonstrating the precision of this method. In addition, the detection limit and quantitative analysis limit of aflatoxin $B_1$ was $0.53\;{\mu}g/kg$ and $1.76\;{\mu}g/kg$, respectively. These results indicated that the analytical method used in this study was appropriate. The results of HPLC showed that 1% (4 samples) of the samples may contain aflatoxins. The concentration of quantified aflatoxin was $2.3\;{\mu}g/kg$ for both Quisqualis fructus and Remotiflori radix samples. The other samples were below the limit of quantification. Moreover, the concentration of aflatoxin $B_1$ which is made by specific fungi were below the level of regulation. Only 20% of aflatoxin $B_1$ were transferred to hot water. Therefore, the levels of aflatoxins in medicinal herbs were considered to be safe especially considering the aflatoxin transfer ratio.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.67-78
• /
• 2016

Rice contaminated with fungal species during storage is not only of poor quality and low economic value, but may also have harmful effects on human and animal health. The predominant fungal species isolated from rice grains during storage belong to the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium. Some of these fungal species produce mycotoxins; they are responsible for adverse health effects in humans and animals, particularly Aspergillus flavus, which produces the extremely carcinogenic aflatoxins. Not surprisingly, there have been numerous attempts to devise safety procedure for the control of such harmful fungi and production of mycotoxins, including aflatoxins. This review provides information about fungal and mycotoxin contamination of stored rice grains, and microbe-based (biological) strategies to control grain fungi and mycotoxins. The latter will include information regarding attempts undertaken for mycotoxin (especially aflatoxin) bio-detoxification and microbial interference with the aflatoxin-biosynthetic pathway in the toxin-producing fungi.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.17-21
• /
• 1973

Fifty-eight strains of Aspergillus spp. isolated from various grains were examined for the screening of aflatoxins by the method of the Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC), using the aflatoxin producing strain of Aspergillus flavus ATCC 15517 as a control. The results as follows: 1. Samples of Aspergillus spp. isolated from various grains were extracted with chloroform and chromatographied by the thin-layer chromatography method. 2. Three strains of Aspergillus spp. among the 58 strains can be found that the spots having the same Rf value as control with culture extract of Aspergillus flavus ATCC 15517. 3. The further prove studies of aflatoxins were proceed by the methods of in vivo and in vitro tests. And this methods considered to capable for the use of mass screening among the samples.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.267-274
• /
• 2017

This paper deals with the natural occurrence of total aflatoxins ($B_1$, $B_2$, $G_1$, and $G_2$) in commercial herbs for food and medicine. To monitor aflatoxins in commercial herbs for food and medicine not included in the specifications of Food Code, a total of 62 samples of 6 different herbs (Bombycis Corpus, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Menthae Herba, Nelumbinis Semen, Polygalae Radix, Zizyphi Semen) were collected from Yangnyeong market in Seoul, Korea. The samples were treated by the immunoaffinity column clean-up method and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with on-line post column photochemical derivatization (PHRED) and fluorescence detection (FLD). The analytical method for aflatoxins was validated by accuracy, precision and detection limits. The method showed recovery values in the 86.9~114.0% range and the values of percent coefficient of variaton (CV%) in the 0.9~9.8% range. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) in herb were ranged from 0.020 to $0.363{\mu}g/kg$ and from 0.059 to $1.101{\mu}g/kg$, respectively. Of 62 samples analyzed, 6 semens (the original form of 2 Nelumbinis Semen and 2 Zizyphi Semen, the powder of 1 Nelumbinis Semen and 1 Zizyphi Semen) were aflatoxin positive. Aflatoxins $B_1$ or $B_2$ were detected in all positive samples, and the presence of aflatoxins $G_1$ and $G_2$ were not detected. The amount of total aflatoxins ($B_1$, $B_2$, $G_1$, and $G_2$) in the powder and original form of Nelumbinis Semen and Zizyphi Semen were observed around $ND{\sim}21.8{\mu}g/kg$, which is not regulated presently in Korea. The 56 samples presented levels below the limits of detection and quantitation.