[In vitro study of the metabolic conversion of aflatoxin B1 into its epoxide]

The conversion of aflatoxin B1 into its epoxide was evaluated in vitro by two different approaches based on HPLC analysis: the quantitative estimation of the tris(OH)AFB1 addition product resulting from the indirect reaction of AFB1-epoxide with tris buffer (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane and on the other hand by the quantification of the formation of the glutathione conjugate (AFB1-SG). The tris(OH)AFB1 is more sensitive than AFB1-SG in fluorescence detection. The AFB1-SG obtained (5.42 +/- 0.42 microgram) is weakly less than the quantity of tris(OH)AFB1 (6.00 +/- 0.72) obtained in the same experimental conditions.