Cancer Science & Research

Cancer Science & Research

Open Access
ISSN: 2639-8478
Original Research Article

Carcinogens, Aflatoxins and Hydroxylated Metabolites, in Rural Cocoa and Artisanal Chocolate Products

Authors: Grizel A Mota-Rodríguez, Magda Carvajal-Moreno, Silvia Ruiz-Velasco.

DOI: 10.33425/2639-8478.1125


Abstract

Aflatoxins (AFs) are toxic secondary metabolites for all living creatures, mainly from the fungi Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus and A. nomius. They cause mutations, immunosuppression, liver damage, are proven carcinogens and cause death. The 4 basic AFs (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2) and four hydroxylated metabolites (AFM1, AFM2, AFP1 and aflatoxicol) were purified via immunoaffinity columns and quantified by liquid chromatography, in 80 samples of artisanal cocoa and chocolate products which had at least one type of AF. The statistical analysis included Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon tests. AFs contaminated the cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) in the field and industrialized samples with the following averages percentage and ranges (ng g-1): 63% of AFB1 (0.12-522), 21% of AFB2 (0.2-54), 29% of AFG1 (1.0-665), 33% of AFG2 (0.2-74), 16% of AFM1 (0.2-118), 18% of AFM2 (1.0-33), 36% of AFP1 (0.02-679), and 58% of aflatoxicol (0.3- 531.1). The average of total aflatoxins in artisanal chocolate derivatives were 161 ng g-1, concentrations that surpassed the international tolerance levels of the Codex Alimentarius (10 ng g-1) in food for humans so they can be considered a health risk The most contaminated samples were grains, shells, and chocolate, and the least were cocoa butter and beverages.

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Citation: Grizel A Mota-Rodríguez, Magda Carvajal-Moreno, Silvia Ruiz-Velasco. Carcinogens, Aflatoxins and Hydroxylated Metabolites, in Rural Cocoa and Artisanal Chocolate Products. Cancer Sci Res. 2026; 9(3). DOI: 10.33425/2639-8478.1125
Editor-in-Chief
Lee Guek Eng
Lee Guek Eng
Department of Medical Oncology | National University of Singapore

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