Evaluation of aflatoxins clean-up from pepper samples using multifunctional column and its comparison with immunoaffinity column

The purpose of this study was to compare two clean-up methods i.e. immunoafinity and multifunctional (MycoSep) columns in determining aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2) in black, white and red pepper samples with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Blank samples of black, white and red pepper were spiked with 1, 5 and 10 ng/g of the toxins. The spiked samples were cleaned up by applying MycoSep and immunoaffinity and recovery values were determined. Preparing six samples of pepper from the market, aflatoxins were measured by both of the clean-up methods in each of the afore mentioned samples. Data were analysed by analysis of variances. When the immuniaffinity column was applied, the recovery values ranged from 69.8±6.6 for G2 to 101.5±5.7 for B1. By applying mycocep column the recovery was ranging from 70.9±3.4 for G2 to 97±8.8 for B1. Data analysis showed that there were no significant differences between recovery values and mycotoxn content in real samples applying immunoaffinity or mycocep. Both methods were found effective.