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This study was conducted with the aim of examining the ability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to remove AFB₁ from liquid media in order to use data in food and feed systems.

The binding of AFB₁ to Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the late exponential and early stationary phases was studied for viable, heat killed and acid killed yeast. AFB₁ at concentrations (5, 10 and 20 μg/l) was added to the yeast culture (10⁹ cfu/ml) in yeast mold broth medium and incubated at 25°C for 4, 12 and 24 hrs. The aflatoxin binding capacity of the strain was quantified by the amount of unbound AFB₁ using ELISA technique.

The detoxification rate for different treatments reported as follows: acid treated cells > heat treated cells > viable cells. Also, the most reduction in AFB₁ concentration happened within the first four hours of incubation with no significant increase in AFB₁ binding on further incubation because of saturation of active sites in yeast cells. According to the results, either form of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (viable or nonviable) is effective in aflatoxin binding from medium and the binding has a physical nature.

The findings reduce the public concern about aflatoxin B₁ contamination in foods and feeds having high risk of aflatoxin contamination.

No research had been done to assess the ability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the mentioned forms to detoxify AFB₁.