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. 2009 Sep 1;25(3):125–131. doi: 10.5487/TR.2009.25.3.125

Co-contamination of Aflatoxins with Ochratoxin A and Zearalenone in Thuja orientalis Semen

So Yean Cho 13, Shin Jung Kang 13, Joohee Jung 23, Byeong Ok Jeong 23, Choon Sik Jeong 23,✉
PMCID: PMC7006283  PMID: 32038830

Abstract

Korea is representative of a country that consumes herbal medicines; most of the herbal medicines circulating in South Korea have been imported from developing countries in Southeast Asia, such as China and Indonesia. Recently, domestic hygiene and safety are issues that have come to the forefront, because herbal medicines currently in circulation could possibly contain contaminants or residues. Furthermore, the appearance or discovery of harmful new species due to environmental and industrial developments is becoming a social problem. Therefore, it may be necessary to consider and investigate these matters on a continual basis. Recently, mycotoxin contaminations in such foods as cereals, nuts, and powdered red pepper have been reported. They have become a problematic issue; the possibility of contamination in herbal medicines has also been considered. Nevertheless, recognition of and research into mycotoxin contamination in herbal medicines has been scarce because herbal medicine is used in only a few nations. In this research, we identified contamination by aflatoxin which is known to be the most potent mutagenic, carcinogenic, and teratoge-nic mycotoxin in Thujae Semen, a herbal medicine. We also found co-contaminations involving other mycotoxins, including ochratoxin A and zeraleanone.

Key words: Herbal medicines, Co-contamination, Aflatoxins, Ochratoxin A, Zearalenone, Thujae Semen

Abbreviations

HPLC/UV

high-performance liquid chromatography/ultra-violet

FLD

ferro liquid display

LOQs

limits of quantitation

LODs

limits of detection

RSD

relative standard deviations

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