Isolation and Quantification of Aflatoxin from Aspergillus flavus Infected Stored Peanuts

Abstract

Isolates of Aspergillus infected Peanuts were separately grown on modified Czapek’s medium at 280 C and the metabolites were tested for aflatoxin by HPLC. Naturally infected peanuts collected from trader’s godown were tested for aflatoxins. Aflatoxins are considered to be one of the most dangerous contaminants in food and feeds. Aflatoxins are a special group of naturally occurring metabolites produced by the fungi aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 which contaminate a variety of agricultural food and feed products .Naturally infected peanuts from Aspergillus flavus stored at trader’s godown, after several months’ storage, were found to be contaminated with aflatoxin B1.