Development and Validation of an UHPLC-MS/MS Method for the Simultaneous Determination of 11 EU-Regulated Mycotoxins in Selected Cereals.

The availability of reliable sensitive multi-analyte methods for unambiguous determination of mycotoxins is crucial for ensuring food and feed safety, considering their adverse health effects and (co-)occurrence in various foods. Accordingly, a multi-mycotoxin confirmatory method for simultaneous determination of 11 mycotoxins regulated in cereals within the European Union (EU) using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was developed and in-house validated to fit the EU legislation requirements for analytical methods. A simple sample preparation was based on a solid−liquid extraction using a solvent mixture acetonitrile/water/formic acid (79/20/1, v/v/v) and a dilution of raw extract using water/acetonitrile/formic acid (79/20/1, v/v/v) before instrumental analysis.

Occurrence of Patulin and Polyphenol Profile of Croatian Traditional and Conventional Apple Cultivars during Storage.

Apples and apple-based products are among the most consumed fruits around the world. However, they are susceptible to infection with the fungi . In addition to the reduction of apple quality, secondary metabolism of this fungus produces a mycotoxin patulin that has a negative effect on human health.

Regulated Mycotoxin Occurrence and Co-Occurrence in Croatian Cereals.

A total of 209 samples of various cereal crops (maize, wheat, barley, rye and oats) grown in Croatian fields during 2016 and 2017 were collected to analyze and determine the occurrence and co-occurrence of EU regulated mycotoxins in cereals (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2, DON, FB1, FB2, ZEA, T-2, HT-2 and OTA). The analysis, performed by a validated confirmatory LC-MS/MS method based on a dilute and shoot principle, highlighted mycotoxins as the main contaminants, often co-occurring in samples from both years (50.0% in 2016 and 33.

Impact and Patulin Accumulation on Conventional and Traditional Apple Cultivars.

is a necrotrophic plant pathogen among the most ubiquitous fungi disseminated worldwide. It causes blue mould rot in apples during storage, transport and sale, threatening human health by secreting patulin, a toxic secondary metabolite that contaminates apples and apple-derived products. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of sufficient data regarding the resistance of different apple cultivars to especially ancient ones, which showed to possess certain resistance to plant diseases.

Mycotoxins, Pesticide Residues, and Heavy Metals Analysis of Croatian Cereals.

Cereals are still one of the most important food and feed sources, thus determining cereal's safety, i.e., compliance with legislation, is extremely important.

Antiaflatoxigenic effect of fullerene C nanoparticles at environmentally plausible concentrations.

Increased interest in fullerene C and derivatives in recent years implies an intensification of their environmental spread. Yet, the potential risks for living organisms are largely unknown, including the interaction of C with fungal organisms. This may be especially relevant for mycotoxigenic fungi since C may both scavenge and produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), and oxidative stress induces mycotoxin production in fungi.

Fullerol C(OH) nanoparticles and mycotoxigenic fungi: a preliminary investigation into modulation of mycotoxin production.

Increased use of fullerols in various fields and expected increase of their environmental spread impose the necessity for testing fullerol nanoparticles (FNP) effects on microbiota. There is little information available on the interaction of mycotoxigenic fungi and FNP, despite FNP having a great potential of modifying mycotoxin production. Namely, FNP exhibit both ROS-quenching and ROS-producing properties, while oxidative stress stimulates mycotoxin synthesis in the fungi.

Antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic activities of coumarinyl thiosemicarbazides against Aspergillus flavus NRRL 3251.

The antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic effects of two series of coumarinyl thiosemicarbazides on Aspergillus flavus NRRL 3251 were studied. Fungi were grown in YES medium for 72 h at 29 °C in the presence of 0, 0.1, 1, and 10 μg mL-1 of coumarinyl thiosemicarbazides: one series with substitution in position 7 and another with substitution in position 4 of the coumarin core.

Soil chemicals properties and wheat genotype impact on micronutrient and toxic elements content in wheat integral flour.

Aim: To determine impact of soil chemical properties and different wheat genotypes in Croatia on micronutrient and toxic elements content in wheat integral flour.

Methods: Research was conducted and soil samples were collected from two different production areas in the Republic of Croatia: Ovčara and Dalj. Besides soil samples, grain samples of four different Croatian wheat genotypes were also collected and analyzed.