An Investigation of the Aflatoxin Content of Some Stored Farm Produce (groundnut and Maize)

Student: CHISOM IBEM JAMES (Project, 2025)
Department of Biochemistry
Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, Nasarawa State

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aflatoxin are toxic secondary metabolites produce by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, commonly found in improperly stored agricultural products. Groundnut sample were first defatted using soxhlet extraction with N-hexane as the solvent why the maize sample was milled into paste. Aflatoxin were serially extracted using chloroform and subjected to paper chromatography with chloroform: ethanol (95:5) as the solvent. Visualization under UV light confirmed the presence of aflatoxin B1, based on the Rf values of the groundnut sample that ranges from 0.850 to 0.9024 and the maize ranges from 0.8532 to 0.920. Aflatoxin concentration was determined using UV visible spectrophotometry at 365nm the concentration of aflatoxin in the groundnut sample ranges from 0.424 to 7.2 and the maize sample ranges from 0.464 to 3.04. Indicating greater vulnerability under poor storage. The finding highlight the need for improved storage methods, increased public awareness and stronger food safety practices to reduce Aflatoxin contamination in stored crops.

Keywords
investigation aflatoxin content stored produce groundnut maize
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