title: Structural Analysis and Biological Toxicity of Aflatoxins B1 and B2 Degradation Products Following Detoxification by Ocimum basilicum and Cassia fistula Aqueous Extracts.
abstract: This study showed the comparison between Ocimum basilicum and Cassia fistula (leaves and branch) aqueous extracts for their ability to detoxify of aflatoxins B1 and B2 (AFB1; 100 μg L(-1) and AFB2; 50 μg L(-1)) by In Vitro assays and decontamination studies. Results indicated that O. basilicum leaves extract was found to be highly significant (P < 0.05) in degrading AFB1 and AFB2, i.e., 90.4 and 88.6%, respectively. However, O. basilicum branch, C. fistula leaves and branch extracts proved to be less efficient in degrading these aflatoxins, under optimized conditions, i.e., pH 8, temperature 30°C and incubation period of 72 h. Moreover the antifungal activity of these plants extracts were also tested. The findings depicted that O. basilicum leaves extract showed maximum growth inhibition of aflatoxigenic isolates, i.e., 82-87% as compared to other tested plants extracts. The structural elucidation of degraded toxin products by LCMS/MS analysis showed that nine degraded products of AFB1 and AFB2 were formed. MS/MS spectra showed that most of the products were formed by the removal of double bond in the terminal furan ring and modification of lactone group indicating less toxicity as compared to parent compounds. Brine shrimps bioassay further confirmed the low toxicity of degraded products, showing that O. basilicum leaves extract can be used as an effective tool for the detoxification of aflatoxins.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agricultural Sciences, University of the PunjabLahore, Pakistan; Health Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic EngineeringFaisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Wajiha
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Iram
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Tehmina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anjum
authors.affiliation: Health Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mazhar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghaffar
authors.affiliation: Quality Operating Laboratory, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mateen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.affiliation: Quality Operating Laboratory, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Abdul Muqeet
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Khan
keywords: LCMS/MS; aflatoxin; degradation; plant extract; toxicity