Degradation of Aflatoxins by Aspergillus niger and Aflatoxin Non-producing Aspergillus flavus

The degradation of aflatoxins (AF) by Aspergillus niger or Aspergillus flavus (AF non-producing strain) from peanuts naturally contaminated and rice artificially contaminated with AF were studied.Conidia of the two strains were separately inoculated into contaminated peanut and rice cultures. The cultures were analyzed at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 days after inoculation. At the same time, AF-contaminated peanut and rice cultures without conidia were analyzed as controls. In the culture with A. niger, loss of AF B1, B2, G1 and G2 was faster and more extensive than in the culture with AF non-producing A. flavus. After 5 days, low levels of AF remained in the culture with A. niger (80-90% was lost), and no AF were detected after 10 to 15 days. In contrast, after 15 days, the loss of AF in the culture with AF non-producing A. flavus ranged from about 40 to 90%, and low levels of AF were still detected after 25 days.The degradation of AF by these two Aspergilli was confirmed by means of the chicken embryo test.