DETERMINATION OF AFLATOXIN B 1IN CORN FLOUR USING HIGH - PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY

Aflatoxins are a group of mycotoxins and secondary metabolites of various species of Aspergillus. Aflatoxins cause important health problems and have high potential effect on liver cancer. There are various forms of aflatoxins including B1, B2, G1, G2, M1 and M2 types. Aflatoxin B1 is most commonly seen in corn, groundnut than in other crops. The aim of this work is to determine the contamination levels in the local and branded corn flour that are marketed in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. A total of 40 samples were collected from reta il outlets and super markets located in the study area. The Romars all -purpose method were used for the extraction of total aflatoxins. HPLC was used for the separation process. Out of 40 samples 23 samples (57.5%) have shown positive for aflatoxin (35% samples have shown positive for G1, 5% samples have shown positive for G2, 50% samples have shown positive for B1, 32.5% samples have shown positives for B2). The overall results of tested samples indicated that contamination of corn flour with B 1 type aflatoxin was very high.