EFFECT OF SOLVENT ON AFLATOXIN CONTENT IN EXTRACTS OF VIRGINIA TYPE PEANUT SKINS

Abstract

Peanut skins are currently a waste product that may be a potential source of flavonoid rich compounds. In order to make use of these compounds, an extract would need to be produced. One of the potential issues with a peanut skin extract could be that any aflatoxins in the whole skins may be concentrated by solvent extraction. A multistep peanut skin extraction (PSE) method (100% water) and a methanol-water method (30:70 and 80:20) were used to extract proanthocyanidins from natural peanut skins samples and from peanut skin samples treated with an aflatoxin standard to determine the recovery by each extraction procedure. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) detection was employed for the determination and quantitation of aflatoxins G2, G1, B2, and B1 in the extracts from each of the samples. No aflatoxins of interest were detected in the PSE, 30% methanol aqueous (aq.), and 80% methanol aq. extract of un-spiked peanut skin samples For aflatoxin spiked standard (G2, G1, B2, B1) samples, the PSE method (100% water) recovered the least aflatoxin with mean recoveries of 1-2%. The 30% methanol aq. procedure yielded mean recoveries of 17- 36%. The 80% methanol aq. extraction method recovered the most aflatoxin, with mean recoveries of 35- 63%. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in aflatoxin recovery between the three extraction methods, indicating that both concentration and type of extraction solvent play significant roles in extraction of aflatoxin. This study provides evidence that if aflatoxins are present in the starting material for a flavonoid rich extract, the aflatoxins will carryover and concentrate in the resultant extract, especially if a high percentage of methanol is used as the major extraction solvent.