Assessing the Possible Effect of Gamma Irradiation on the Reduction of aflatoxin B1, and on the Moisture Content in Some Cereal Grains

and Aida Saber¹

¹ Nutrition Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

² Medical Biophysics Department, Medical research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

^*Corresponding Author

Rasha Said Shams El-Dine

Medical Biophysics Department

Medical research Institute

Alexandria University

Alexandria 2(03), Egypt

E-mail: Rasha_shams17@yahoo.com

Abstract

Aflatoxin B₁ is the most potent hepatocarcinogen known in animals and it is classified by the International Agency of Research on Cancer (IARC) as Group I carcinogen meaning that it is a proven cancer-inducing agent. It also occurs in the environment contaminating a lot of different food and feed commodities. The aim of this study was to assess the possible effect of gamma irradiation on the reduction of aflatoxin B₁ in some cereal grains and the impact on nutritive values including, ash, &moisture. It was found that maize samples contain the highest level of aflatoxin B₁ than wheat and rice. Gamma irradiation is a suitable technique which reduces the levels of aflatoxin B₁ in cereal samples without affecting the nutritive values, at 4 KGy the reduction percents of aflatoxin B₁ were 15.54%, 22.25%, and 27.46% for maize, wheat, and rice respectively whereas at 6 KGy the reduction percents of aflatoxin B₁ were 32.39%, 43.84%, and 56.38% respectively and the 8 KGy radiation dose remove about 60.26% of the toxin in maize, 64.68% in rice and 69.29% in wheat samples. Higher radiation doses than 8 KGy are required to remove the toxin until it reaches the legal limit (5ppb) according to FAO.

Keywords: Gamma Irradiation; aflatoxin B1; Cereal Grains; radiation.

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