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Showing 5 results for Mycotoxin
Determination of Mycotoxin Contamination and Heavy Metals in Edible Rice Imported to Golestan Province
Mahdis Mosayebi, Habiballah Mirzaee,
Volume 6, Issue 4 (3-2014)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Rice is one of the most consumed food items that is exposed to mycotoxins and heavy metals contamination. Due to the accumulation of heavy metals in the tissues of human body and its side effects on the body and being carcinogenic and mutagenic mycotoxin, the present study was conducted to determine contamination of rice imported in Golestan Province. Materials and Methods: We collected 80 samples of imported rice from India and Pakistan on the Inche boron border in Golestan province between January 2011 and August 2012. We analyzed each sample for the amount of mycotoxins (aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2 and total aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, zearalenone and dexynivalenol) and heavy metals (lead, arsenic, and cadmium). We used HPLC to measure mycotoxins and immunoaffinity column (Dexynivalenol purification was conducted using DONSPE column) for purifying. Hydride generation atomic absorption based optical spectroscopy technique was used for determining arsenic. Graphite furnace atomic absorption according AOAC.986.15 was used to determine lead and cadmium. Results: We found that the average level of aflatoxin B1, B2, ochratoxin A, and total aflatoxin were 0.93, 0.036, 0.033 and 0.96 ng/g respectively. Aflatoxin G1, G2 and dexynivalenol was not observed in any of the samples. Average concentrations of lead, arsenic, and cadmium in the samples were 0.067, 0.007, 0.024 mg/kg respectively. Conclusions: All samples were within the accepted maximum limits of Iran National Standards for heavy metals and mycotoxins in rice.
Determination of mycotoxin contamination in imported wheat to Mazandaran province by high performance liquid chromatography
R Farahmandfar, S Rashidaei Abandansari , E Maghsoudlou, M Asnaashari,
Volume 11, Issue 1 (6-2018)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Wheat is one of the most important cereals due to the supply of much of the flour used in bread making in most countries, such as Iran. Wheat contamination with mycotoxins is subject to different production and maintenance conditions. As a carcinogen and mutagen, monitoring the amount of mycotoxins in imported wheat and prevention of the entry of low quality wheat to the food chain are essential. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the contamination of the wheat imported to Mazandaran province.
Materials and Methods: Samples of the wheat imported from Caspian Sea countries were evaluated for moisture content and mycotoxins contamination (ochratoxin A, zearalenone and deoxynivalenol). Mycotoxins contamination was determined by HPLC method via purifying with immunoaffinity column for ochratoxin A and zearalenone, and DONSPE column for deoxynivalenol.
Results: The results of this study showed that the average of ochratoxin A, zearalenone, and deoxynivalenol in the samples were 2.24, 133.50 and 181.66 ng/g, respectively.
Conclusion: All the samples were within the acceptable level for mycotoxin according to the permissible limits of Iran National Standard. Additionally, a direct relation between deoxynivalenol and moisture content of the samples (-0.092) was not observed and the correlation between moisture content and ochratoxin A and zearalenone was 0.104 and 0.168, respectively.

Investigation of aflatoxin status in foreign black tea in Tehran, Iran
Leila Faramarz, Mahdi Davari, Rouhollah Karami Osboo,
Volume 18, Issue 2 (9-2025)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Aflatoxins are among the most important and hazardous fungal secondary metabolites, commonly produced in food and animal feed by certain Aspergillus species. Tea is one of the most widely consumed non-alcoholic beverages worldwide and is regarded as a healthy drink, with approximately two-thirds of the global population consuming it daily, particularly in the morning. This study aimed to monitor the presence of aflatoxins in black tea samples collected from Tehran, and to assess the safety of this commonly consumed beverage in the country.
Materials and Methods: In this study, 31 tea samples from different brands were collected in Tehran in May 2023 and analyzed for aflatoxin contamination using a nanoextraction method, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with a fluorescence detector.
Results: The limit of detection (LOD) values for aflatoxins G1, G2, B1, and B2 were 0.06, 0.35, 0.06, and 0.35 ng/g, respectively, and the limit of quantification (LOQ) values were 0.2, 1, 0.2, and 1 ng/g, respectively. The LOQ values of the present method are comparable to those reported in recent studies conducted in Spain, Austria, and Iran, which reported LOQs higher than 1 ng/g. According to the results obtained, none of the black tea samples from different brands available in the Tehran market contained detectable levels of the four types of aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, and G2), even below the globally permissible limits (AFs ≥ 10 µg/kg).
Conclusion: Despite the absence of aflatoxin contamination in tea samples consumed in Tehran, previous studies worldwide suggest that tea can be contaminated with fungi and may support mycotoxin production under favorable temperature and humidity conditions. Therefore, ensuring tea safety requires attention to proper processing, adequate storage conditions, and the prevention of aflatoxin-producing fungal growth during production stages.
 

Study of mycotoxins in wheat flour manufactured in Ardabil factories
Mahdi Davari, Habibollah Eskandari, Mahin Pouresmaeil,
Volume 18, Issue 3 (12-2025)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi that contaminate food products such as wheat and pose significant health risks when consumed by humans.
Materials and Methods: This study aimed to analyze eight mycotoxins—deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, ochratoxin A (OTA), total aflatoxins, and the individual aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2—in flour samples collected from factories in Ardabil city. To this end, eight samples were analyzed, including six lavash bread flour samples and two barbari bread flour samples. Solid-phase extraction using immunoaffinity columns, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with spectrofluorimetric detection, was employed to measure the concentrations of the targeted mycotoxins.
Results: The results showed that deoxynivalenol was detected in three lavash flour samples at concentrations of 178.7, 136.4, and 188 ng/g. In contrast, the remaining lavash samples and all barbari flour samples had deoxynivalenol levels below the instrument’s detection limit of 100 ng/g. Additionally, all other analyzed mycotoxins were below the detection limits in all flour samples.
Conclusion: This study found that the levels of all eight fungal mycotoxins in wheat flour were below the permissible limits defined by Standard No. 5925 of the National Standards Organization of Iran, indicating no significant threat to human health. Despite these reassuring results, it is recommended to regularly monitor various types of flour and other wheat-based products across different seasons, due to potential variations in wheat supply from different regions of the country or from international sources.
 

Investigating the concentration of Patulin in various juices samples sold in Tehran market in 2024
Soheyl Eskandari, Alireza Bakhtiyari, Ali Mirzakhani, Saeed Aghebat-Bekheir, Parisa Shavali-Gilani,
Volume 18, Issue 4 (3-2026)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Patulin is one of the most important mycotoxins produced by a wide range of molds. The main source of this mycotoxin is rotten fruits, especially apple juice. Patulin may damage the liver, spleen, and kidneys and cause seizures, edema, intestinal inflammation, and vomiting. Patulin may also have genotoxic and neurotoxic properties and disrupt the functioning of the immune and nervous systems.
Materials and Methods: In this study, the concentration of patulin in 34 random samples of fruit juice, including 26 apple juice samples, 4 apple and banana mixed juice samples, 2 apple and kiwi mixed juice samples, and 2 pomegranate juice samples sold in stores in Tehran in May 2024, was measured and reported using the HPLC-UV method.
Results: The LOD and LOQ levels were 1.21 and 3.49 µg/kg, respectively, and the recovery percentage was between 91 and 97 percent. The mean and standard deviation of patulin concentration in a total of 34 samples was 13.425 ± 21.348 µg/kg, which was below the permissible limit of the Iranian standard and Codex (50 µg/kg), and only the findings related to one of the samples were higher than the standard limit (14.88 µg/kg).
Conclusion: The results of this study show that the levels of patulin in the samples examined are mostly within the limits of Iranian and Codex standards. However, more comprehensive studies with a larger number of samples are recommended for a more accurate assessment of potential risks.
 

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