Thin layer chromatographic determination of citrinin

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Food Science
• Mycotoxicology

Background:

• Citrinin is a mycotoxin commonly found in animal feed, posing potential health risks.
• Accurate and reliable methods for citrinin determination in feed are crucial for food safety and quality control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and validate a thin layer chromatographic (TLC) method for the quantitative determination of citrinin in various feed matrices.
• To establish a sensitive and efficient analytical procedure for citrinin detection in animal feed.

Main Methods:

• Citrinin extraction from feed using methanol and water, followed by alkaline treatment with sodium carbonate.
• Liquid-liquid extraction with chloroform to remove interfering substances and isolate citrinin.
• Separation and detection using thin layer chromatography (TLC) with subsequent visual or fluorodensitometric quantitation.

Main Results:

• The TLC method demonstrated high recovery rates for citrinin, ranging from 75% to 92% in spiked feed samples.
• The method achieved a detection limit of 0.5 micrograms/g, suitable for analyzing various feed types including corn, silage, and pellets.
• The developed method effectively quantifies citrinin in diverse feed samples.

Conclusions:

• The proposed thin layer chromatographic method is a reliable and sensitive technique for determining citrinin contamination in animal feeds.
• This validated method aids in ensuring the safety and quality of animal feed by accurately detecting citrinin levels.