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Evaluation of the Plasma Jet Effects on the Citrinin and Ochratoxin a Producing Species of the Genus Penicillium



Vaseghi N1 ; Bayat M1 ; Nosrati ACH2 ; Ghorannevis M3 ; Hashemi S4
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Microbiology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Molecular and Сell Biology, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Gilan, Iran
  3. 3. Plasma Physics Research Center, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran

Source: Bulgarian Chemical Communications Published:2018

Abstract

Mycotoxins are small toxic molecules produced by a variety of microorganisms. They are often made of several secondary metabolites and often have a variety of chemical functions and structures. Citrinin and Ochratoxin A produced by different species of Penicillium contaminate various types of foods. Today, the cold atmospheric pressure plasma method has potential for mycotoxin detoxification. In this study, cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAPP) operating parameters were investigated and optimized to increase the effect on Citrinin and Ochratoxin A in wheat, oat, corn and rice. In this study, the output of power supply first was set to 50 kV, 100 watts and the electron frequency of 30 kHz (optimum conditions for stable and effective plasma) to perform the tests. Then, the effect of cold atmospheric plasma jet (argon) on the gas flow establishment (gas rate 6 6 l/min) for 30, 60 and 360 sec was investigated. The results showed that CAPP method effectively reduces the pure mycotoxins. Overall, there are more than 40% and 50% reduction in the mean initial concentrations of Ochratoxin A and Citrinin, when plasma-treated at 100 W powers. The degree of destruction of various mycotoxins varies according to their structure. It was also shown that the presence of a combination of mycotoxins in foods reduces the plasma's effect but does not prevent their destruction. Finally, in this study, Citrinin and Ochratoxin A were successfully detoxified on all specimens. In addition to mycotoxin detoxification, the CAPP method is neutral in terms of biologic effects and has least negative effects on the nutrients compared to the conventional methods of disinfection of food products. © 2018 Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Union of Chemists in Bulgaria 383.