TLC for the Detection of Aflatoxin in Groundnut (Arachis hyposaea L.) Kernels

Abstract

Cash crops such as groundnut, cashew, cotton, sesame, sugarcane, tobacco, turmeric and banana play vital role in the growth of economic and nutritional status in India. Of these, groundnuts (Arachis hyposaea L.) is the most important major crops, which is energy rich and micro nutrient contents are relatively high compared
with other corps. Out of total production, 12% is used as seeds, 8%
for edible purpose, 70% extraction of oils and 10% for export and
hence it is considered to be an economically important crop. This
crop is found to be attacked by number of fungal diseases. Besides
these fungal diseases groundnut is found to be affected by
"Aflatoxins". They are probably the most serious fungal disease of
groundnut on a worldwide scale. Aflatoxins are a group of highly
oxygenated heterocyclic compounds with closely related structure
of B₁, B₂, G₁ and G₂. These aflatoxins are closely related group of
secondary fungal metabolites which have been epidemiologically
implicated carcinogens in human being. The carcinogenic properties
of aflatoxin have reinforced the concept that naturally occurring
mycotoxins may be involved in the etiology of human cancer on a
broad basis. Aflatoxin producing fungi are widely distributed in
tropical and subtropical areas. Groundnut is highly susceptible to
aflatoxin contamination. An attempt has been made to determine
the possible variations in the amount of aflatoxin-B, present in the
groundnuts grown in two different fields treated with chemical
fertilizers and organic manure alone independently.