Reduction of Aflatoxin B1 and Zearalenone Contents in Corn Using Power Ultrasound and Its Effects on Corn Quality

Yuanfang Liu; Yuanxiao Liu; Wenbo Zhao; Mengmeng Li; Na Liu; Ke Bian

doi:10.3390/toxins14120834

Reduction of Aflatoxin B1 and Zearalenone Contents in Corn Using Power Ultrasound and Its Effects on Corn Quality

Toxins (Basel). 2022 Nov 30;14(12):834. doi: 10.3390/toxins14120834.

Authors

Yuanfang Liu¹, Yuanxiao Liu², Wenbo Zhao¹, Mengmeng Li², Na Liu¹, Ke Bian²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, Zhengzhou Normal University, No. 6, Yingcai Street, Huiji District, Zhengzhou 450044, China.
² College of Grain and Oil Food, Henan University of Technology, No. 100, Lianhua Street, Gaoxin District, Zhengzhou 450001, China.

Abstract

The degradation of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and zearalenone (ZEA) is investigated using power ultrasound to identify suitable methods to reduce the mycotoxin content of corn. AFB1 and ZEA in corn are simultaneously degraded via power ultrasound; thus, this method has a significant effect on corn quality. The power intensity, solid-liquid ratio, and ultrasonic treatment modes significantly affect the degradation rates of AFB1 and ZEA. The dissolution of AFB1 and ZEA in water also facilitates their degradation. At the initial stage of ultrasonic treatment, power ultrasound promotes the dissolution of mycotoxins in water, whereupon they are partially oxidized by free radicals. With a treatment time of 10 min, the reduction rates decreased owing to the dissolution of combined-state mycotoxins. After ultrasonic treatment, the contents of the essential amino acids, the total number of amino acids, and the fatty acids in corn decreased; however, ΔH values decreased during starch gelatinization. In contrast, the amylose content and viscosity of corn significantly increased during gelatinization. Therefore, this method is potentially suitable for the reduction of AFB1 and ZEA contents in corn.

Keywords: aflatoxin B1; corn quality; power ultrasound; zearalenone.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aflatoxin B1 / metabolism
Mycotoxins*
Zea mays / metabolism
Zearalenone* / metabolism

Substances

Zearalenone
Aflatoxin B1
Mycotoxins

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant number 2018YFE0206000), the Scientific Research Foundation for Doctors of Zhengzhou Normal University (Grant number 702457) and the Key Scientific Research Projects of Colleges and Universities in Henan province (Grant number 22B150024).