Comparison of aflatoxins contamination levels in betel nuts (Areca catechu L.) imported from Asian countries

Abstract

Background: Aspergillus and their linked metabolites such as aflatoxins (AFs) are one of the extremely significant contaminants affecting food production around the world. The contamination of AFs has been identified in various food commodities, which have been recognized as carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic and immunosuppressive. The present study was undertaken to assess the AFs contamination in betel nuts (Areca catechu L.) being imported to Pakistan from South Asian countries during 2018–2019. Methods: A total of 143 betel nuts consignments (India = 80, Indonesia = 39 and Sri Lanka = 24) were obtained and analyzed for the AF contamination using immunoaffinity column (IAC) clean-up procedure subsequent by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Results: In Indian-origin betel nuts, about 96.3% samples were contaminated with AFs, ranging from 1.18‒331.57 µg/kg with mean contamination of 76.11 ± 1.12 µg/kg; whereas, in Indonesian and Sri Lankan shipments, 100% samples of betel nuts were found infected with AFs, ranging between 1.88‒378.94 and 4.74‒106.58 µg/kg with an average level of 123.76 ± 1.25 and 47.95 ± 0.98 µg/kg, respectively. Conclusions: In conclusion, the AFs levels present an acute toxicity to human health and also hazard factors for the economy since contaminated foodstuffs do not fulfill the requirements of export/import. Therefore, instant actions should be engaged and re-evaluate agricultural procedures and regular monitoring of AFs level in food stuffs to minimize the chances of various diseases such as oral pre-cancerous oral wounds, submucous fibrosis and squamous cell carcinoma (cancer).