An Overview of Conventional and Emerging Analytical Methods for the Determination of Mycotoxins

Abstract

Abstract:Mycotoxins are a group of compounds produced by various fungi and excreted into the matrices on which they grow, often food intended for human consumption or animal feed. The high toxicity and carcinogenicity of these compounds and their ability to cause various pathological conditions has led to widespread screening of foods and feeds potentially polluted with them. Maximum permissible levels in different matrices have also been established for some toxins. As these are quite low, analytical methods for determination of mycotoxins have to be both sensitive and specific. In addition, an appropriate sample preparation and pre-concentration method is needed to isolate analytes from rather complicated samples. In this article, an overview of methods for analysis and sample preparation published in the last ten years is given for the most often encountered mycotoxins in different samples, mainly in food. Special emphasis is on liquid chromatography with fluorescence and mass spectrometric detection, while in the field of sample preparation various solid-phase extraction approaches are discussed. However, an overview of other analytical and sample preparation methods less often used is also given. Finally, different matrices where mycotoxins have to be determined are discussed with the emphasis on their specific characteristics important for the analysis (human food and beverages, animal feed, biological samples, environmental samples). Various issues important for accurate qualitative and quantitative analyses are critically discussed: sampling and choice of representative sample, sample preparation and possible bias associated with it, specificity of the analytical method and critical evaluation of results.

Recent aflatoxin survey data in milk and milk products: A review

“…There is a tendency towards developing multiple methods for the simultaneous analysis of mycotoxins that belong to different chemical species. This is why LC‐MS/MS (liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry) is the best technique for this purpose (Kralj Cigić and Prosen ).…”

Electronic nose predicts high and low fumonisin contamination in maize cultures

“…The overall combination of the response patterns defines the odorant under investigation. Further information on sensor technologies, data analysis approaches and EN applications as an on-line, rapid diagnostic test for food spoilage can be found in the literature (Kralj Cigić & Prosen, 2009;Peris & Escuder-Gilabert, 2009;Röck, Barsan, & Weimar, 2008).…”

Comparison of ELISA, HPLC-FLD and HPLC-MS/MS Methods for Determination of Aflatoxin M1 in Natural Contaminated Milk Samples

“…In addition, the emphasis in the field of sample preparation during the last few decades has been focused on the minimization of solvent use, procedure steps, sample size and time of analysis. 30 Whichever sample preparation procedure and technique for the determination of AFM1 are selected, the whole procedure must be validated according to European Decision 24 and Technical Report CEN/TR 16059:2010 from European Committee for Standardization. 31 Despite the continuous development in the field of the mycotoxins analysis it should be noted that one of the main encountered problems is a heterogeneous distribution of mycotoxins in the sample.…”