Fluorometric analysis of iodinated aflatoxin in minicultures ofAspergillus flavus andAspergillus parasiticus

A convenient miniassay for aflatoxin has been developed for cultures ofAspergillus flavus andA. parasiticus grown for 3–10 days in 10 ml of a coconut extract medium. The sensitivity of the assay, as measured by photofluorometry (365 nm maximum excitation; 445 nm maximum emission), is of the order of 0.01 μM (3.12 ng/ml) for aflatoxin B1 dissolved in aqueous iodine (0.26 mM). High performance liquid chromatography, monitored by fluorometric analysis of both an aflatoxin B1 standard and selected culture filtrates, confirmed the sensitivity of the assay and indicated specificity for iodine-enhanced fluorescence of aflatoxin in the coconut extract medium. Thin layer chromatography further confirmed the aflatoxin titers and the specificity for enhancement of aflatoxins B1 and G1 in culture filtrates.