Determination of aflatoxins in dried figs produced in Aydın region and comparison of aflatoxin determination methods

SUMMARYIn this study, aflatoxin analysis were made by various methods on figs produced inAydın Region. These methods were compared according to their experimental time,sensitivity, cost, error rate, difficulties of analysis level and their applicability on fig samples.Homogenized 38 fig pastes were analysed by three different methods as HPLC (HighPressure Liquid Chromatography), TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography) and FluorimetricAnalysis. These methods were compared to each other. Also, some of the methods used toanalyse aflatoxin such as ELISA, RIA and UV light usage were approached theoretically.Fluorimetric method uses spectrofluorimeter device, gives total Aflatoxinconcentration (can not analyse Afla B1, Afla B2, Afla G1 ve Afla G2 concentrationsindividually). As a result of this; usage of fluorimetric method is not common in aflatoxindetection according to other methods.TLC method is appointed that less expensive and but more laborious than HPLCmethod. In TLC method, there is no need any extra device for derivatisation step and also it isnot necessary to use expensive columns such as IAC and C-18 used in HPLC. More accurateresults are obtained by using fluoridensitometer in detection step of TLC method. Inconclusion, it is considered that TLC method with fluoridensitometer is preferred instead ofHPLC method for aflatoxin analysisIn this study, results were given in tables and figures. Besides, aflatoxin of Afla G2was seen least and aflatoxin of Afla B1 was seen most in samples. Also, in random choice of38 samples, only 2 of the samples did not contain aflatoxin.