Extraction of Lipid-Soluble Marine Biotoxins

Abstract

A recent extensive outbreak of toxic shellfish poisoning (TSP) in New Zealand, with at least 4 types of toxicities present, required the development of a new method for detecting lipid-soluble marine biotoxins. The complexity of studying this outbreak, requiring large sample numbers, dictated the development of a robust and safe method for extracting lipid-soluble toxins. The new method is based on extraction of lipophilic compounds with acetone followed by partitioning into dichloromethane. The dichloromethane extract is evaporated to constant weight and suspended in a detergent–saline solution for use in a mouse bioassay. The new method produces an extract of superior quality, is quicker and more sensitive compared with extraction methods currently used.