title: Aflatoxin B1 in betel nuts (Areca catechu L.) imported to Pakistan from different regions of South Asia.
abstract: Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) levels were evaluated in betel nuts (Areca catechu L.) being imported to Pakistan during 2010-2011. In total, 278 betel nut samples (India = 21, Indonesia = 51, Sri-Lanka = 34 and Thailand = 172) were received from the Department of Customs and were analysed by thin layer chromatography (TLC). All Indian origin betel nuts showed AFB1 contamination ranging from 11.7-262.0 µg kg(-1) with a mean of 92.5 µg kg(-1). Among Indonesian and Sri Lankan shipments, 80.4% and 73.5% betel nuts were contaminated with AFB1 ranging between 3.3-39.2 and 6.5-103.4 µg kg(-1) with a mean of 11.6 and 35.0 µg kg(-1), respectively. However, only 30.2% of Thailand origin samples showed AFB1 contamination ranging 3.3-77.0 µg kg(-1) with a mean of 6.6 µg kg(-1). The widespread occurrence of AFB1 increases the hazard associated with betel nuts. Thus, strict control is a pre-requisite for the production and import/export of psychoactive substances as betel nuts.
authors.affiliation: a Food and Feed Safety Laboratory , Food and Marine Resources Research Centre, PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Karachi , Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Asif
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Asghar
authors.forename: Javed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.forename: Aftab
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Mobeen Ahmed
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Zuzzer Ali
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Shamsuddin
mesh_terms: D016604:Aflatoxin B1 / Q000032:analysis*; D001114:Areca / Q000737:chemistry*; D001208:Asia; D003132:Commerce; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D007194:India; D007214:Indonesia; D009754:Nuts / Q000737:chemistry; D010154:Pakistan; D013188:Sri Lanka; D013785:Thailand
chemical_list: D016604:Aflatoxin B1
keywords: South Asia and Pakistan; TLC; aflatoxin B1; betel nuts