Blake R Rushing
Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, USA
Title: Detoxification of aflatoxin B1 using dietary molecular species
Biography
Biography: Blake R Rushing
Abstract
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a class 1 carcinogen and a common food contaminant worldwide. It is also a major cause of the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), making dietary exposure to this toxin very concerning. Existing strategies to reduce AFB1 exposure are limited and as a result, many people are exposed to this toxin worldwide. Issues with current detoxification strategies include harmful byproduct formation, incomplete removal, or the requirement of sophisticated infrastructures. Our study aims to develop a new chemical treatment process to modify AFB1 into a non-carcinogenic form using benign reagents found in human diets. Our strategy targets themutagenic site of the AFB1 molecule, the 8,9-double bond, by adducting it to selected amino acids in dietary proteins.Identification and quantification of aflatoxins was performed using high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-TOFMS). Optimization of AFB1 hydration was carried out by incubating in various organic acids as well as increasing temperature. Newly formed AFB2a was introduced to alkaline solutions containing amino acids, peptides, and other biological molecules. Products were identified based on changes in retention times and accurate mass values. Mutagenicity of the resulting adduct was determined using an Ames’ test with and without the presence of hepatic microsomes. This study provides a basis for developing a safe and effectivedetoxification method for contaminated foods, reducing exposure to AFB1 worldwide.