[Improved method of determining the aflatoxin content in different food products of plant origin]

The authors offer an improved method for detection, identification and quantitation of aflatoxins, fit for series analyses. The method includes extract purification by means of two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography and quantitative determination of aflatoxin from their specific fluorescence. Combination of the techniques included in the method enables one to separate aflatoxin from interfering substances in extracts of any products of plant origin and excludes the attainment of pseudopositive results. The method was made use of for studying contamination of 145 samples of foods. Aflatoxin B1 was found in some of the samples. The maximal content of the aflatoxin was detected in corn and peanut. Apart from aflatoxin B1, the corn samples were demonstrated to contain aflatoxins B2, G1, and G2.