Estudio de la producción de aflatoxinas B₁ G₁ B₂y G₂en semillas de anacardo por parte de Aspergillus parasiticus CECT2681 mediante cromatografía líquida de ultra-alta resolución

In this work we develop a method for the analysis of aflatoxins in cashew nuts by means of ultra-performance liquid chromatography. The method allows the detection of the four toxins in only 3.2 minutes. Aflatoxins are extracted with a mixture of methanol and water 70:30. A chromatographic column Acquity UPLC ™ BEH C18 (2.1 x 50 mm, 1.7 microns) is used for the separation and a UV detector (350 nm) is employed to measure them. The method was applied to two cashew nuts samples obtained from two different countries (India and El Salvador), previously inoculated with Aspergillus parasiticus CECT 2681, a strain able to produce aflatoxinas when it grows on rice. Results showed that aflatoxinas can be produced In cashew nuts by a toxigenic strain if environmental conditions are suitable.