Quantification of Aflatoxins in Different Dates (Phoenix Dactylifera L.) Varieties from Humid Subtropical Regions

Shamayem Aslam^1, , Muhammad Yasin Ashraf¹, Muhammad Rafique Asi², Shabbir Hussain^{2, 3}, Hafiz M. Fahad Raza², Muhammad Adil Rehman⁴, Sumera Anwar¹ and Fahad Shafiq¹

¹Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore 54000, Pakistan

²Food Toxicology Lab, Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan

³Central Analytical Facility Division, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH), P.O. Box Nilore, 1482, Islamabad

⁴Department of Food Science and Technology, University College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan

Cite this paper:
Shamayem Aslam, Muhammad Yasin Ashraf, Muhammad Rafique Asi, Shabbir Hussain, Hafiz M. Fahad Raza, Muhammad Adil Rehman, Sumera Anwar and Fahad Shafiq. Quantification of Aflatoxins in Different Dates (Phoenix Dactylifera L.) Varieties from Humid Subtropical Regions. Journal of Food and Nutrition Research. 2021; 9(11):564-570. doi: 10.12691/jfnr-9-11-2

Abstract

Food items are prone to fungal attacks due to the warm and humid climatic conditions of Pakistan. The aflatoxins (AFs) are the most common mycotoxins produced by fungal species highly responsible for liver toxicity and hepatocellular carcinoma. The present study was planned to assess the contamination levels of aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2) in local and imported varieties (Irani and Saudi) collected from Pakistan. About 251 dates samples were procured from the markets and analyzed by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography coupled with a fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD) in isocratic mode. The AFs were detected in 89% of date samples ranging from 32.9 to 1465.4 μg kg^-1 all of which exceeded the permissible limit of AFs set by FDA (USA) (20 µg kg^-1) and EU (4 µg kg^-1) for human consumption. The two main local varieties Kupro (801.5 µg kg^-1), and Mazafati (1275.8 µg kg^-1) had maximum concentrations of total aflatoxins. Out of imported varieties, Mabroom (Saudi) (272.94 µg kg^-1) and Rubai (Irani) (1465.42 µg kg^-1) have the highest concentrations of total aflatoxins. The maximum levels of AFB1 were seen in Mazafati (Pakistani) (521.5 µg kg^-1), Mabroom Saudi (127.6 µg kg^-1) and Rubai Irani (662.8 µg kg^-1). It could be seen that overall local varieties have higher contamination of AB1 and total AFs with the exception of Rubai (Irani) and Mabroom (Saudi) due to the poor storage conditions, improper pre- and post-harvesting handling, and humid conditions of Pakistan emphasizing the need for proper management and regulation.

Keywords:
Aflatoxin dates varieties districts Pakistan HPLC-FLD EU limits

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