Survey of Mycotoxins in Wheat from Iran by HPLC Using Immunoaffinity Column Cleanup

Mycotoxins are small, toxic chemical products produced as secondary metabolites by a few fungal spices that readily colonise crops and contaminate them with toxins in the field or after harvest. In this study a liquid chromatographic method was developed for the simultaneous determination of aflatoxins (AFs) (B1, B2, G1, and G2), ochratoxin A (OTA) and zearalenone(ZEA) toxins in wheat. For this purpose, a total of 231 wheat samples were analyzed. Mycotoxins were extracted and purified from the samples using immunoaffinity (IAC) columns. 2.67% and 2.21% of examined wheat samples contained AFB1and OTA. The method was based on the extraction of AFs, OTA and ZEA finely ground wheat sample with 80% methanol and 60% acetonitrile solution, respectively. 2.60% and 2.16% of examined wheat samples contained AFB1 and OTA. LOD was 0.27, 0.04, 0.23, 0.04, 1.18 and 21.56 for AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2, OTA and ZEA, respectively.Considering these results, these special products should not be a health concern for these collectives; however, special attention needs on foods distribution in retail shops.