Reduction of mutagenicity and toxicity of aflatoxin B sub(1) by chlorine gas treatment

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology Vol. 26; no. 9; pp. 745 - 752
• Main Authors: Sen, A C, Wei, C I, Fernando, SY, Toth, J, Ahmed, E M, Dunaif, GE
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.1988
• ISSN: 0278-6915

Chlorine gas was used to treat aflatoxin B sub(1) (AFB sub(1)). The time-related exposure study showed that 4 ml (15 mg) pure chlorine gas caused 90% destruction of 100 mu g AFB sub(1) within 10 min, at standard temperature and pressure. Four fluorescent reaction products were produced, two of which were identified as 8,9-dichloro-AFB sub(1) and 8,9-dihydroxy-AFB sub(1) (diol). The use of ( super(14)C)AFB sub(1) confirmed the 90% destruction of the compound by chlorine gas. An increased destruction of AFB sub(1) also occurred when an increased amount of chlorine gas was used. The mutagenic activity of the AFB sub(1) sample treated for 10 min was reduced to 5% of the untreated control using the Salmonella typhimurium) strain TA98 in the presence of a rat-liver S-9 mix. A similar time-related reduction in AFB sub(1) toxicity after chlorine treatment was achieved using the chicken embryo toxicity assay.