EVALUATION OF THE AFLATOXIN B1 ADSORPTION CAPACITY OF BENTONITE USING AN IN VITRO METHOD MIMICKING MONOGASTRIC GASTRO-INTESTINAL TRACT CONDITIONS

Abstract

Aflatoxins are considered as unavoidable contaminants of food and animal feeds, since their production cannot be prevented successfully using current agricultural practices. The use of aflatoxin adsorbents as feed supplements is one of the most promising approaches to reduce aflatoxicoses in animals. Since there are numerous adsorbents marketed, an effective and practical method for the rapid evaluation of adsorption capacity of individual products is needed. In this study, we used an in vitro model designed to mimic the temperature, pH and the time of passage through the stomach and the intestinal tract of a monogastric animal, for the evaluation of aflatoxin B1 adsorption capacity of different mineral clays. The results indicate that 6 out of the 7 tested products had a high binding capacity (ranging from 98.97-100%), under the experimental conditions used. The data also demonstrate that the method allows us to differentiate those compounds with high binding capacity from those with a lesser binding capacity. Such an in vitro method seems useful for the rapid screening of different substances and for the pre-selection of adsorbent products that may be used as feed supplements.