Natural occurrence of ochratoxin A in dried figs

• Published in: Analytica chimica acta 2008-06, Vol.617 (1), p.32-36
• Main Authors: Karbancıoğlu-Güler, Funda, Heperkan, Dilek
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical chemistry; Biological Products - analysis; Biological Products - biosynthesis; Chemistry; Chromatographic methods and physical methods associated with chromatography; Desiccation; Dried figs; Exact sciences and technology; Ficus - chemistry; Ficus - metabolism; High performance liquid chromatography; Mycotoxin; Ochratoxin A; Ochratoxins - analysis; Ochratoxins - biosynthesis; Other chromatographic methods; Time Factors; Water - chemistry
• ISSN: 0003-2670; 1873-4324
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2008.01.009

Ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination in dried figs was investigated using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection after extraction with methanol and orthophosphoric acid and clean up by an immunoaffinity column. The limit of detection for OTA was 0.12 μg kg −1. One hundred and fifteen samples were taken during the drying stage from 7 different districts in the Aegean Region in 2003 and 2004. Fifty-five (47.2%) of the 115 samples were found to contain detectable levels of ochratoxin A, ranging from 0.12 to 15.31 μg kg −1. However, the OTA level for a majority of the samples was low, with only 4 samples containing OTA exceeding 1 μg kg −1. The calculated overall median for the OTA level was below the limit of detection and the overall mean was estimated as 0.52 μg kg −1. Frequency of ochratoxin A contamination in dried figs harvested in 2003 and 2004 are 47 and 50%, respectively. Highest contamination ratio was determined in dried figs from Erbeyli (60%), followed by Selcuk (56%), and Ortaklar (50%).