Giuseppe Meca - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Giuseppe Meca
The technology used to separate the contaminated fractions from grains and bioaccessibility in hu... more The technology used to separate the contaminated fractions from grains and bioaccessibility in human body are important aspects to evaluate the risk assessment connected with the exposure of mycotoxins from pasta consumption. The first aim of this study was to analyze 27 samples of dried pasta characterized by size, packaging and marketing intended for young children consumption. After that the occurrence of main mycotoxins of durum wheat that are Deoxynivalenol (DON), Ochratoxin A (OTA), and Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was determined; selected samples were submitted to gastric and pancreatic digestion to evaluate the bioaccessibility of mycotoxins. Seven of the 27 samples exceeded from 120 to 225% the legal limit for DON fixed for processed cerealbased baby foods. All the collected samples were under the OTA legal limit. No sample was contaminated by AFB1 over the instrumental limit of detection of 0.10 μg/kg. The mean value of gastric bioaccessibility verified for the DON resulted of 23.1...
A total of 68 cereal products (48 breakfast cereals and 20 infant cereals) were collected from su... more A total of 68 cereal products (48 breakfast cereals and 20 infant cereals) were collected from super-markets and pharmacies in the Rabat-Salé area of Morocco and the content of fumonisins (FB 1 , FB 2 and FB 3) was analysed. Samples were extracted with a mixture of acetonitrile/water (85/15, v/v) by using an ultra-turrax ho-mogenizer. Mycotoxins were then identified and quantified by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrom-etry. Results showed that fumonisins were detected in 20 samples (18 breakfast cereals and 2 infant cereals) with a frequency of contamination of 29.4% of total samples. The most contaminated products were cornflakes (maize) and breakfast cereals (rice, maize and cacao) with 10 and 4 positive samples respectively. The highest value was found in a breakfast cereal with 228 μg kg -1 of total fumonisins.
In this study, 64 samples of raw cereals (wheat, maize and barley) purchased from local markets i... more In this study, 64 samples of raw cereals (wheat, maize and barley) purchased from local markets in Rabat–Salé area from Morocco were analyzed for the occurrence of six emerging mycotoxins: four enniatins ENs (ENA, ENA1, ENB and ENB1), beauvericin (BEA) and fusaproliferin (FUS). Samples were extracted with a mixture of water/acetonitrile (85/15, v/v) by using an Ultra-turrax homogenizer. Mycotoxins were
Food Chemistry, 2009
A rapid simple and economical method was described for the determination of ochratoxin A produced... more A rapid simple and economical method was described for the determination of ochratoxin A produced by Aspergillus ochraceus ITEM 5117 grown in a biofermenter in submerged culture. The ochratoxin A was determinate with RP-HPLC-FLD (reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography) with direct injection in the HPLC apparatus using a C18 column. The mycotoxin was completely resolved by using the mixture acetonitrile, water and acetic acid (49:49:2 v/v) as the mobile phase with a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Mean recoveries of ochratoxin A ranged from 95.36% to 103.15%. The limit of detection for ochratoxin A in medium was found to be 1 lg L À1 .
Toxicon, 2010
To obtain the bioactive compound beauvericin (BEA), Fusarium proliferatum CECT 20569 was grown on... more To obtain the bioactive compound beauvericin (BEA), Fusarium proliferatum CECT 20569 was grown on a solid medium of wheat, utilizing the technique of the solid state fermentation (SSF), being this mycotoxin purified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a reverse phase semi-preparative column using as the mobile phase acetonitrile/water in gradient condition. The purity of the BEA was verified by analytical HPLC and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS). The pure fractions of BEA were utilized to determinate the antibiotic effects on several bacterial strains that are considered normally pathogens of the intestinal tract as: Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecium, Salmonella enterica, Shigella dysenteriae, Listeria monocytogenes, Yersinia enterocolitica, Clostridium perfringens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.
Toxicology Letters, 2010
Abstracts / Toxicology Letters 196S (2010) S37-S351 other existing procedures. Performed analysis... more Abstracts / Toxicology Letters 196S (2010) S37-S351 other existing procedures. Performed analysis indicates that 56% of monitored samples were contaminated with levels ranging from 0.12 to 1.85 ng/g.
Analytical Methods, 2010
ABSTRACT
Food Control, 2010
The interaction between ochratoxin A (OTA) and 16 yeast strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae durin... more The interaction between ochratoxin A (OTA) and 16 yeast strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae during alcoholic fermentation of the Italian wine Moscato was studied. Levels of OTA in the fermentation liquid, on the cell walls and on the internal part of the cells were determined using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system with a fluorescence detector. Results showed that yeast cells adsorbed the mycotoxin on the external and internal part of the cells and also that OTA presence did not affect the alcoholic fermentation in any tested yeast. All the yeasts analyzed in this study showed a significant reduction in the OTA content during the fermentation process.
Food Control, 2011
Coffee is one of the most frequently consumed beverages in North America and Europe. It is well k... more Coffee is one of the most frequently consumed beverages in North America and Europe. It is well known that coffee contains caffeine and that coffee beans can be contaminated by Ochratoxin A (OTA). The operating conditions however affect OTA and caffeine extraction from the roasted coffee. OTA content found in the beverages can be greater than that found in the roasted coffee used to prepare it, representing a potential OTA related risk factor for the human health. Moreover the coffee beans and coffee based beverages have an anti oxidant activity. This study investigates the OTA content, the amount of caffeine, and the antioxidant activity in five different preparations: American coffee, Moka, Italian Espresso, Neapolitan and Turkish coffee. Artificially OTA spiked samples were prepared using artificially contaminated roasted coffee beans. High Pressure Liquid Chromatography with fluorimetric detector was used (LC-FLD). The OTA amount, in all preparations, was 85% lower then the spiking level. Quantitative analysis of the caffeine content in the five coffee preparations was determined by spectrophotometry, and the antioxidant lipophilic and hydrophilic activities of the different coffee preparations were investigated and compared. The caffeine content was directly related to its antioxidant activity; no relation was found between OTA, antioxidant activity and caffeine.
Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry, 2011
Page 1. Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry Vol. 93, No. 2, February 2011, 383395 Produc... more Page 1. Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry Vol. 93, No. 2, February 2011, 383395 Production, purification, and mass spectrometry characterization of the cyclohexadepsipeptide enniatin J3 and study of the cytoxicity on differentiated and undifferentiated Caco-2 cells ...
World Mycotoxin Journal, 2012
ABSTRACT The present review summarises data on the prevalence and concentration of fusaproliferin... more ABSTRACT The present review summarises data on the prevalence and concentration of fusaproliferin, beauvericin and enniatins in small grains, maize and processed grain-based foods. These fungal secondary metabolites possess interesting biological activities and are presently often referred to as 'emerging mycotoxins: They have been considered as less important since they are likely not of acute toxicity. However, their high prevalence in foodstuffs, occasionally in higher mg/kg concentrations, warrants an assessment of their true importance for food (and feed) safety. Thorough surveys that determine the contamination of raw and processed foods with fusaproliferin, beauvericin and enniatins are still scarce and are generally limited to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. The reported data suggest a connection between the observed concentrations and climate. The data further suggest that humans might be exposed continuously to low levels of enniatins as these compounds were of particularly high prevalence in the surveys. The highest concentrations of enniatins were reported from Spain and Northern Africa (maximum concentration of enniatin A(1) 814 mg/kg in rice from the Spanish market), while concentrations were significantly lower in Northern Europe (maximum concentration of enniatin B 18.3 mg/kg in wheat from Finland). Beauvericin appears to be of low significance in grains from cooler climates while it has been reported to occur at concentrations of tens of mg/kg in Southern Europe and Morocco (maximum concentration 59 mg/kg in maize from Morocco). Fusaproliferin has been least investigated. Several reports from the Mediterranean show its occasional occurrence up to 19.6 mg/kg in rice from Morocco, while its natural occurrence in cooler climates seems to be more rare.
Food Control, 2012
ABSTRACT Tiger-nuts are tubers from the plant Cyperus esculentus which are commercialized in some... more ABSTRACT Tiger-nuts are tubers from the plant Cyperus esculentus which are commercialized in some regions of West and Central Africa, USA and Spain. These tubers have a high microbial charge such as bacteria, moulds and yeasts which could remain until the finished product. In this study we examined 47 samples of tiger-nut tubers purchased from Spanish supermarkets for contamination with the emerging Fusarium mycotoxins: Enniatins ENs (EN A, EN A1, EN B and EN B1), beauvericin (BEA) and fusaproliferin (FUS). The extraction of the samples was carried out with methanol using an Ultraturrax homogenizer. Mycotoxins were analyzed with a liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to a diode array detector (DAD).The percentage of contaminate samples with one or more emerging mycotoxins was 21.3%. EN A1 result the most common EN found with the highest prevalence of 17% with levels ranging from 32.3 to 4400 μg/g. EN B1 and BEA were present simultaneously in 5 samples, whereas the maximum contamination observed of the EN B1 was of 346 μg/g. The lowest incidence were observed for the ENs A and B evidenced only in one sample of the total studied. Only one emerging mycotoxin, fusaproliferin (FUS), has not been detected in any sample studied.The present work is the first one ever drafted on the presence of the emerging Fusarium mycotoxins in Spanish tiger-nuts.
Food Control, 2012
ABSTRACT Forty-five samples of Spanish follow-up infant formula with different chemical compositi... more ABSTRACT Forty-five samples of Spanish follow-up infant formula with different chemical compositions were analyzed determining the emerging Fusarium mycotoxins beauvericin (BEA), enniatins (ENs) (A, A1, B, B1), and fusaproliferin (FUS). The samples were extracted three times with ethyl acetate using an Ultra-turrax homogenizer. Mycotoxins were identified and quantified using a liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to a diode array detector (DAD). Results showed that the percentage of the samples contaminated with ENs and FUS were 46.6 and 20.0% respectively, whereas all analyzed samples were free of BEA. The ENs A and B were detected only in one sample with 149.6 and 39.4 mg/kg respectively. The ENB1 was the more detected mycotoxin with levels ranging from 11.4 to 41.9 mg/kg. The ENA1 was detected at levels ranging from 6.3 to 101.7 mg/kg. The minor Fusarium mycotoxin FUS was detected in a range variable from 0.7 to 1.7 mg/kg. Finally, dietary exposure of Spanish infants (between 6 and 12 months) to ENs, BEA and FUS, was estimated through the consumption of commercial follow-up infant formula by the calculation of the estimated daily intake (EDI). Considering the sum of the mycotoxins studied, the data evidenced that the EDI was 236.2 mg/kg bw/day.
Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 2013
A B S T R A C T Beauvericin (BEA) is a bioactive compound produced by the secondary metabolism of... more A B S T R A C T Beauvericin (BEA) is a bioactive compound produced by the secondary metabolism of several Fusarium strains and known to have various biological activities. This study investigates the influence of several dietary fibers (galactomanan, glucomannan, citrus fiber, bamboo fiber, carrot fiber, pie fiber, b-glucan, xilan, and cellulose) and probiotic strains (Lactobacillus animalis, Lb. casei, Lb. casei, Lb. plantarum, Lb. rhuminis, Lb. casei casei, Bifidobacterium breve, Bf. Adolescents, Bf. bifidum, Corynebacterium vitaeruminis, Streptococcus faecalis, Eubacterium crispatus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on the minor Fusarium mycotoxin BEA bioaccessibility employing a model solution. The bioaccessibility was determined using a simulated gastrointestinal digestion that mimics the physiological conditions of the digestive tract until the colonic compartment. The determination of BEA in the intestinal fluids was carried out by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry detection (LC-MS). The reduction of BEA bioaccessibility in the experiments carried out using the prebiotic compounds ranged from 60 to 80%, whereas in the trials carried out using the probiotic strains the bioaccessibility observed ranged from 30 to 85%. A BEA degradation product produced by colonic fermentation was identified using the technique of LC-MS-LIT. ß
Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods, 2014
A 28-day repeated dose preliminary assay, using enniatin A naturally contaminated feed through mi... more A 28-day repeated dose preliminary assay, using enniatin A naturally contaminated feed through microbial fermentation by a Fusarium tricinctum strain, was carried out employing 2-month-old female Wistar rats as in vivo experimental model. In order to simulate a physiological test of a toxic compound naturally produced by fungi, five treated animals were fed during 28 days with fermented feed. As control group, five rats were fed with standard feed. At the 28th day, blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis and the gastrointestinal tract, liver and kidneys were removed from each rat for enniatin A detection and quantitation. Digesta were collected from stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon. Enniatin A present in organs and in biological fluids was analyzed by liquid chromatography-diode array detector (LC-DAD) and confirmed by LC-mass spectrometry linear ion trap (MS-LIT); also several serum biochemical parameters and a histological analysis of the duodenal tract were performed. No adverse effects were found in any treated rat at the enniatin A concentration (20.91 mg/kg bw/day) tested during the 28-day experiment. Enniatin A quantitation in biological fluids ranged from 1.50 to 9.00 mg/kg, whereas in the gastrointestinal organs the enniatin A concentration ranged from 2.50 to 23.00 mg/kg. The high enniatin A concentration found in jejunum liquid and tissue points to them as an absorption area. Finally, two enniatin A degradation products were identified in duodenum, jejunum and colon content, probably produced by gut microflora.
Crop & Pasture Science, 2014
ABSTRACT The Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) is a pathogen of durum wheat and other c... more ABSTRACT The Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) is a pathogen of durum wheat and other cereals worldwide. The complex consists of at least 15 species that can produce various mycotoxins, including trichothecenes, associated with human and animals toxicoses. In particular, deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV) and their different acetylated derivatives can be produced by the different chemotypes of the complex. In this study, 90 strains, isolated mainly from wheat in Italy and belonging to the FGSC, were assessed for their phylogeny and their chemotype and trichothecene genotype. Almost all strains of the FGSC belonged to F. graminearum sensu stricto, whereas two strains were F. cortaderiae. On the other hand, all three chemotypes, 3ADON, 15ADON and NIV, occurred; 15ADON was the most common molecular chemotype. The data show that the species composition of the Italian FGSC is homogeneous, whereas wide chemotype variability can occur within F. graminearum sensu stricto.
Food Control, 2014
ABSTRACT In this study, 72 samples of follow-up infant formula of Spanish origin were analyzed fo... more ABSTRACT In this study, 72 samples of follow-up infant formula of Spanish origin were analyzed for the presence of the mycotoxins beauvericin (BEA), enniatins (ENs) (A, A1, B, B1), and fusaproliferin (FUS). The samples analyzed were extracted three times with ethyl acetate and then the mycotoxins were identified and quantified using a liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to a diode array detector (DAD). The positive samples analyzed in this study were digested through a simulated gastrointestinal digestion model, which permit to simulate the physiological condition of the human gastrointestinal tract (duodenal and colonic compartments) in order to assess the bioaccessibility of the bioactive compounds contained in the follow-up infant formula, and to perform the approach to the risk assessment related to the intake of these bioactive compounds. The EN B, was detected in 12 of the totally positive samples with a mean value of 32.3 ± 1.2 mg/kg, whereas the EN A was evidenced only in one sample with a value of 149.62 ± 2.36 mg/kg. The EN A1 presented a mean contamination of 55.36 ± 2.1 mg/kg. The duodenal bioaccessibility of the bioactive compounds present in the analyzed samples ranged from 0.37 to 22.41%, whereas employing the duodenal + colonic digestion the mean bioaccessibility of the mycotoxins studied ranged from 1.63 to 29.00%.
The technology used to separate the contaminated fractions from grains and bioaccessibility in hu... more The technology used to separate the contaminated fractions from grains and bioaccessibility in human body are important aspects to evaluate the risk assessment connected with the exposure of mycotoxins from pasta consumption. The first aim of this study was to analyze 27 samples of dried pasta characterized by size, packaging and marketing intended for young children consumption. After that the occurrence of main mycotoxins of durum wheat that are Deoxynivalenol (DON), Ochratoxin A (OTA), and Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was determined; selected samples were submitted to gastric and pancreatic digestion to evaluate the bioaccessibility of mycotoxins. Seven of the 27 samples exceeded from 120 to 225% the legal limit for DON fixed for processed cerealbased baby foods. All the collected samples were under the OTA legal limit. No sample was contaminated by AFB1 over the instrumental limit of detection of 0.10 μg/kg. The mean value of gastric bioaccessibility verified for the DON resulted of 23.1...
A total of 68 cereal products (48 breakfast cereals and 20 infant cereals) were collected from su... more A total of 68 cereal products (48 breakfast cereals and 20 infant cereals) were collected from super-markets and pharmacies in the Rabat-Salé area of Morocco and the content of fumonisins (FB 1 , FB 2 and FB 3) was analysed. Samples were extracted with a mixture of acetonitrile/water (85/15, v/v) by using an ultra-turrax ho-mogenizer. Mycotoxins were then identified and quantified by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrom-etry. Results showed that fumonisins were detected in 20 samples (18 breakfast cereals and 2 infant cereals) with a frequency of contamination of 29.4% of total samples. The most contaminated products were cornflakes (maize) and breakfast cereals (rice, maize and cacao) with 10 and 4 positive samples respectively. The highest value was found in a breakfast cereal with 228 μg kg -1 of total fumonisins.
In this study, 64 samples of raw cereals (wheat, maize and barley) purchased from local markets i... more In this study, 64 samples of raw cereals (wheat, maize and barley) purchased from local markets in Rabat–Salé area from Morocco were analyzed for the occurrence of six emerging mycotoxins: four enniatins ENs (ENA, ENA1, ENB and ENB1), beauvericin (BEA) and fusaproliferin (FUS). Samples were extracted with a mixture of water/acetonitrile (85/15, v/v) by using an Ultra-turrax homogenizer. Mycotoxins were
Food Chemistry, 2009
A rapid simple and economical method was described for the determination of ochratoxin A produced... more A rapid simple and economical method was described for the determination of ochratoxin A produced by Aspergillus ochraceus ITEM 5117 grown in a biofermenter in submerged culture. The ochratoxin A was determinate with RP-HPLC-FLD (reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography) with direct injection in the HPLC apparatus using a C18 column. The mycotoxin was completely resolved by using the mixture acetonitrile, water and acetic acid (49:49:2 v/v) as the mobile phase with a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Mean recoveries of ochratoxin A ranged from 95.36% to 103.15%. The limit of detection for ochratoxin A in medium was found to be 1 lg L À1 .
Toxicon, 2010
To obtain the bioactive compound beauvericin (BEA), Fusarium proliferatum CECT 20569 was grown on... more To obtain the bioactive compound beauvericin (BEA), Fusarium proliferatum CECT 20569 was grown on a solid medium of wheat, utilizing the technique of the solid state fermentation (SSF), being this mycotoxin purified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a reverse phase semi-preparative column using as the mobile phase acetonitrile/water in gradient condition. The purity of the BEA was verified by analytical HPLC and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS). The pure fractions of BEA were utilized to determinate the antibiotic effects on several bacterial strains that are considered normally pathogens of the intestinal tract as: Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecium, Salmonella enterica, Shigella dysenteriae, Listeria monocytogenes, Yersinia enterocolitica, Clostridium perfringens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.
Toxicology Letters, 2010
Abstracts / Toxicology Letters 196S (2010) S37-S351 other existing procedures. Performed analysis... more Abstracts / Toxicology Letters 196S (2010) S37-S351 other existing procedures. Performed analysis indicates that 56% of monitored samples were contaminated with levels ranging from 0.12 to 1.85 ng/g.
Analytical Methods, 2010
ABSTRACT
Food Control, 2010
The interaction between ochratoxin A (OTA) and 16 yeast strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae durin... more The interaction between ochratoxin A (OTA) and 16 yeast strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae during alcoholic fermentation of the Italian wine Moscato was studied. Levels of OTA in the fermentation liquid, on the cell walls and on the internal part of the cells were determined using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system with a fluorescence detector. Results showed that yeast cells adsorbed the mycotoxin on the external and internal part of the cells and also that OTA presence did not affect the alcoholic fermentation in any tested yeast. All the yeasts analyzed in this study showed a significant reduction in the OTA content during the fermentation process.
Food Control, 2011
Coffee is one of the most frequently consumed beverages in North America and Europe. It is well k... more Coffee is one of the most frequently consumed beverages in North America and Europe. It is well known that coffee contains caffeine and that coffee beans can be contaminated by Ochratoxin A (OTA). The operating conditions however affect OTA and caffeine extraction from the roasted coffee. OTA content found in the beverages can be greater than that found in the roasted coffee used to prepare it, representing a potential OTA related risk factor for the human health. Moreover the coffee beans and coffee based beverages have an anti oxidant activity. This study investigates the OTA content, the amount of caffeine, and the antioxidant activity in five different preparations: American coffee, Moka, Italian Espresso, Neapolitan and Turkish coffee. Artificially OTA spiked samples were prepared using artificially contaminated roasted coffee beans. High Pressure Liquid Chromatography with fluorimetric detector was used (LC-FLD). The OTA amount, in all preparations, was 85% lower then the spiking level. Quantitative analysis of the caffeine content in the five coffee preparations was determined by spectrophotometry, and the antioxidant lipophilic and hydrophilic activities of the different coffee preparations were investigated and compared. The caffeine content was directly related to its antioxidant activity; no relation was found between OTA, antioxidant activity and caffeine.
Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry, 2011
Page 1. Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry Vol. 93, No. 2, February 2011, 383395 Produc... more Page 1. Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry Vol. 93, No. 2, February 2011, 383395 Production, purification, and mass spectrometry characterization of the cyclohexadepsipeptide enniatin J3 and study of the cytoxicity on differentiated and undifferentiated Caco-2 cells ...
World Mycotoxin Journal, 2012
ABSTRACT The present review summarises data on the prevalence and concentration of fusaproliferin... more ABSTRACT The present review summarises data on the prevalence and concentration of fusaproliferin, beauvericin and enniatins in small grains, maize and processed grain-based foods. These fungal secondary metabolites possess interesting biological activities and are presently often referred to as 'emerging mycotoxins: They have been considered as less important since they are likely not of acute toxicity. However, their high prevalence in foodstuffs, occasionally in higher mg/kg concentrations, warrants an assessment of their true importance for food (and feed) safety. Thorough surveys that determine the contamination of raw and processed foods with fusaproliferin, beauvericin and enniatins are still scarce and are generally limited to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. The reported data suggest a connection between the observed concentrations and climate. The data further suggest that humans might be exposed continuously to low levels of enniatins as these compounds were of particularly high prevalence in the surveys. The highest concentrations of enniatins were reported from Spain and Northern Africa (maximum concentration of enniatin A(1) 814 mg/kg in rice from the Spanish market), while concentrations were significantly lower in Northern Europe (maximum concentration of enniatin B 18.3 mg/kg in wheat from Finland). Beauvericin appears to be of low significance in grains from cooler climates while it has been reported to occur at concentrations of tens of mg/kg in Southern Europe and Morocco (maximum concentration 59 mg/kg in maize from Morocco). Fusaproliferin has been least investigated. Several reports from the Mediterranean show its occasional occurrence up to 19.6 mg/kg in rice from Morocco, while its natural occurrence in cooler climates seems to be more rare.
Food Control, 2012
ABSTRACT Tiger-nuts are tubers from the plant Cyperus esculentus which are commercialized in some... more ABSTRACT Tiger-nuts are tubers from the plant Cyperus esculentus which are commercialized in some regions of West and Central Africa, USA and Spain. These tubers have a high microbial charge such as bacteria, moulds and yeasts which could remain until the finished product. In this study we examined 47 samples of tiger-nut tubers purchased from Spanish supermarkets for contamination with the emerging Fusarium mycotoxins: Enniatins ENs (EN A, EN A1, EN B and EN B1), beauvericin (BEA) and fusaproliferin (FUS). The extraction of the samples was carried out with methanol using an Ultraturrax homogenizer. Mycotoxins were analyzed with a liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to a diode array detector (DAD).The percentage of contaminate samples with one or more emerging mycotoxins was 21.3%. EN A1 result the most common EN found with the highest prevalence of 17% with levels ranging from 32.3 to 4400 μg/g. EN B1 and BEA were present simultaneously in 5 samples, whereas the maximum contamination observed of the EN B1 was of 346 μg/g. The lowest incidence were observed for the ENs A and B evidenced only in one sample of the total studied. Only one emerging mycotoxin, fusaproliferin (FUS), has not been detected in any sample studied.The present work is the first one ever drafted on the presence of the emerging Fusarium mycotoxins in Spanish tiger-nuts.
Food Control, 2012
ABSTRACT Forty-five samples of Spanish follow-up infant formula with different chemical compositi... more ABSTRACT Forty-five samples of Spanish follow-up infant formula with different chemical compositions were analyzed determining the emerging Fusarium mycotoxins beauvericin (BEA), enniatins (ENs) (A, A1, B, B1), and fusaproliferin (FUS). The samples were extracted three times with ethyl acetate using an Ultra-turrax homogenizer. Mycotoxins were identified and quantified using a liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to a diode array detector (DAD). Results showed that the percentage of the samples contaminated with ENs and FUS were 46.6 and 20.0% respectively, whereas all analyzed samples were free of BEA. The ENs A and B were detected only in one sample with 149.6 and 39.4 mg/kg respectively. The ENB1 was the more detected mycotoxin with levels ranging from 11.4 to 41.9 mg/kg. The ENA1 was detected at levels ranging from 6.3 to 101.7 mg/kg. The minor Fusarium mycotoxin FUS was detected in a range variable from 0.7 to 1.7 mg/kg. Finally, dietary exposure of Spanish infants (between 6 and 12 months) to ENs, BEA and FUS, was estimated through the consumption of commercial follow-up infant formula by the calculation of the estimated daily intake (EDI). Considering the sum of the mycotoxins studied, the data evidenced that the EDI was 236.2 mg/kg bw/day.
Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 2013
A B S T R A C T Beauvericin (BEA) is a bioactive compound produced by the secondary metabolism of... more A B S T R A C T Beauvericin (BEA) is a bioactive compound produced by the secondary metabolism of several Fusarium strains and known to have various biological activities. This study investigates the influence of several dietary fibers (galactomanan, glucomannan, citrus fiber, bamboo fiber, carrot fiber, pie fiber, b-glucan, xilan, and cellulose) and probiotic strains (Lactobacillus animalis, Lb. casei, Lb. casei, Lb. plantarum, Lb. rhuminis, Lb. casei casei, Bifidobacterium breve, Bf. Adolescents, Bf. bifidum, Corynebacterium vitaeruminis, Streptococcus faecalis, Eubacterium crispatus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on the minor Fusarium mycotoxin BEA bioaccessibility employing a model solution. The bioaccessibility was determined using a simulated gastrointestinal digestion that mimics the physiological conditions of the digestive tract until the colonic compartment. The determination of BEA in the intestinal fluids was carried out by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry detection (LC-MS). The reduction of BEA bioaccessibility in the experiments carried out using the prebiotic compounds ranged from 60 to 80%, whereas in the trials carried out using the probiotic strains the bioaccessibility observed ranged from 30 to 85%. A BEA degradation product produced by colonic fermentation was identified using the technique of LC-MS-LIT. ß
Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods, 2014
A 28-day repeated dose preliminary assay, using enniatin A naturally contaminated feed through mi... more A 28-day repeated dose preliminary assay, using enniatin A naturally contaminated feed through microbial fermentation by a Fusarium tricinctum strain, was carried out employing 2-month-old female Wistar rats as in vivo experimental model. In order to simulate a physiological test of a toxic compound naturally produced by fungi, five treated animals were fed during 28 days with fermented feed. As control group, five rats were fed with standard feed. At the 28th day, blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis and the gastrointestinal tract, liver and kidneys were removed from each rat for enniatin A detection and quantitation. Digesta were collected from stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon. Enniatin A present in organs and in biological fluids was analyzed by liquid chromatography-diode array detector (LC-DAD) and confirmed by LC-mass spectrometry linear ion trap (MS-LIT); also several serum biochemical parameters and a histological analysis of the duodenal tract were performed. No adverse effects were found in any treated rat at the enniatin A concentration (20.91 mg/kg bw/day) tested during the 28-day experiment. Enniatin A quantitation in biological fluids ranged from 1.50 to 9.00 mg/kg, whereas in the gastrointestinal organs the enniatin A concentration ranged from 2.50 to 23.00 mg/kg. The high enniatin A concentration found in jejunum liquid and tissue points to them as an absorption area. Finally, two enniatin A degradation products were identified in duodenum, jejunum and colon content, probably produced by gut microflora.
Crop & Pasture Science, 2014
ABSTRACT The Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) is a pathogen of durum wheat and other c... more ABSTRACT The Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) is a pathogen of durum wheat and other cereals worldwide. The complex consists of at least 15 species that can produce various mycotoxins, including trichothecenes, associated with human and animals toxicoses. In particular, deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV) and their different acetylated derivatives can be produced by the different chemotypes of the complex. In this study, 90 strains, isolated mainly from wheat in Italy and belonging to the FGSC, were assessed for their phylogeny and their chemotype and trichothecene genotype. Almost all strains of the FGSC belonged to F. graminearum sensu stricto, whereas two strains were F. cortaderiae. On the other hand, all three chemotypes, 3ADON, 15ADON and NIV, occurred; 15ADON was the most common molecular chemotype. The data show that the species composition of the Italian FGSC is homogeneous, whereas wide chemotype variability can occur within F. graminearum sensu stricto.
Food Control, 2014
ABSTRACT In this study, 72 samples of follow-up infant formula of Spanish origin were analyzed fo... more ABSTRACT In this study, 72 samples of follow-up infant formula of Spanish origin were analyzed for the presence of the mycotoxins beauvericin (BEA), enniatins (ENs) (A, A1, B, B1), and fusaproliferin (FUS). The samples analyzed were extracted three times with ethyl acetate and then the mycotoxins were identified and quantified using a liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to a diode array detector (DAD). The positive samples analyzed in this study were digested through a simulated gastrointestinal digestion model, which permit to simulate the physiological condition of the human gastrointestinal tract (duodenal and colonic compartments) in order to assess the bioaccessibility of the bioactive compounds contained in the follow-up infant formula, and to perform the approach to the risk assessment related to the intake of these bioactive compounds. The EN B, was detected in 12 of the totally positive samples with a mean value of 32.3 ± 1.2 mg/kg, whereas the EN A was evidenced only in one sample with a value of 149.62 ± 2.36 mg/kg. The EN A1 presented a mean contamination of 55.36 ± 2.1 mg/kg. The duodenal bioaccessibility of the bioactive compounds present in the analyzed samples ranged from 0.37 to 22.41%, whereas employing the duodenal + colonic digestion the mean bioaccessibility of the mycotoxins studied ranged from 1.63 to 29.00%.