Volume 12, Issue 3 (September 2025)
J. Food Qual. Hazards Control 2025, 12(3): 230-239 |
Back to browse issues page
Ethics code: IR.TBZMED.VCR.REC.1401.022
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Yousefi M, Andishmand H, Abedi-Firoozjah R, Khorram S, Ostadrahimi A. Detoxification of Aflatoxin B1 on Dried White Mulberry (Morus alba L.) Using Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma. J. Food Qual. Hazards Control 2025; 12 (3) :230-239
URL: http://jfqhc.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-1257-en.html
URL: http://jfqhc.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-1257-en.html
Nutrition Research Center, Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition & Food Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran , ostadrahimi@tbzmed.ac.ir
Abstract: (41 Views)
Background: Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is an extremely toxic mycotoxin usually found in dried fruits, including mulberries, posing significant health risks. This study investigated the potential of cold plasma treatment to decrease AFB1 contamination in dried white mulberries (Morus alba L.) and its effects on product quality.
Methods: A total of 5 kg of fresh white mulberries were harvested at full ripeness from Urmia, Iran, during June–July 2023. The fruits were sun-dried using traditional methods and artificially contaminated with AFB1 (2000 µg/kg). Samples (5 g per replicate, total
n = 51) were treated using a cold plasma jet system positioned 1 cm above water-containing glass beakers with mulberries immersed in water. Treatments were applied at voltages of 5, 9, and 13 kV for 6, 12, and 18 min according to a Central Composite Design. AFB1 levels were quantified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with immunoaffinity column cleanup. Quality parameters including pH, Total Phenolic Content (TPC), and color (L*) were measured. Statistical analysis was performed using Design-Expert software version 13 (Stat-Ease, Inc., Minneapolis, USA), employing analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and regression modeling.
Results: Cold plasma treatment decreased AFB1 content by up to 62.6% at 13 kV and 18 min. pH decreased due to the combined effects of treatment time and voltage, whereas TPC decreased significantly with each factor individually, whereas color (L*) showed no significant change (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Cold plasma effectively reduced AFB1 contamination in dried mulberries with minimal impact on color but caused decreases in pH (from 5.18 to 4.12) and TPC (by approximately 32%), indicating some quality degradation. Further studies should evaluate sensory attributes, microbial safety, and storage stability to confirm industrial applicability.
DOI: 10.18502/jfqhc.12.3.19788
Methods: A total of 5 kg of fresh white mulberries were harvested at full ripeness from Urmia, Iran, during June–July 2023. The fruits were sun-dried using traditional methods and artificially contaminated with AFB1 (2000 µg/kg). Samples (5 g per replicate, total
n = 51) were treated using a cold plasma jet system positioned 1 cm above water-containing glass beakers with mulberries immersed in water. Treatments were applied at voltages of 5, 9, and 13 kV for 6, 12, and 18 min according to a Central Composite Design. AFB1 levels were quantified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with immunoaffinity column cleanup. Quality parameters including pH, Total Phenolic Content (TPC), and color (L*) were measured. Statistical analysis was performed using Design-Expert software version 13 (Stat-Ease, Inc., Minneapolis, USA), employing analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and regression modeling.
Results: Cold plasma treatment decreased AFB1 content by up to 62.6% at 13 kV and 18 min. pH decreased due to the combined effects of treatment time and voltage, whereas TPC decreased significantly with each factor individually, whereas color (L*) showed no significant change (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Cold plasma effectively reduced AFB1 contamination in dried mulberries with minimal impact on color but caused decreases in pH (from 5.18 to 4.12) and TPC (by approximately 32%), indicating some quality degradation. Further studies should evaluate sensory attributes, microbial safety, and storage stability to confirm industrial applicability.
DOI: 10.18502/jfqhc.12.3.19788
Type of Study: Original article |
Subject:
Special
Received: 24/09/03 | Accepted: 25/09/23 | Published: 25/09/30
Received: 24/09/03 | Accepted: 25/09/23 | Published: 25/09/30
References
1. Amini M., Ghoranneviss M. (2016). Effects of cold plasma treatment on antioxidants activity, phenolic contents and shelf life of fresh and dried walnut (Juglans regia L.) cultivars during storage. LWT. 73: 178-184. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2016.06.014]
2. Batista J.D.F., Dantas A.M., Dos Santos Fonseca J.V., Madruga M.S., Fernandes F.A.N., Rodrigues S., Da Silva Campelo Borges G. (2021). Effects of cold plasma on avocado pulp (Persea americana Mill.): chemical characteristics and bioactive compounds. Journal of Food Processing and Preservation. 45: e15179. [DOI: 10.1111/jfpp.15179]
3. Bey M.B., Louaileche H., Zemouri S. (2013). Optimization of phenolic compound recovery and antioxidant activity of light and dark dried fig (Ficus carica L.) varieties. Food Science and Biotechnology. 22: 1613-1619. [DOI: 10.1007/s10068-013-0258-7]
4. Chen Y., Zhang Y., Jiang L., Chen G., Yu J., Li S., Chen Y. (2020). Moisture molecule migration and quality changes of fresh wet noodles dehydrated by cold plasma treatment. Food Chemistry. 328: 127053. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.127053]
5. Chutia H., Mahanta C.L. (2021). Influence of cold plasma voltage and time on quality attributes of tender coconut water (Cocos nucifera L.) and degradation kinetics of its blended beverage. Journal of Food Processing and Preservation. 45: e15372. [DOI: 10.1111/jfpp.15372]
6. Doymaz İ. (2004). Pretreatment effect on sun drying of mulberry fruits (Morus alba L.). Journal of Food Engineering. 65: 205-209. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2004.01.016]
7. Gençdağ E., Görgüç A., Okuroğlu F., Yılmaz F.M. (2021). The effects of power ‐ ultrasound, peroxyacetic acid and sodium chloride washing treatments on the physical and chemical quality characteristics of dried figs. Journal of Food Processing and Preservation. 45: e15009. [DOI: 10.1111/jfpp.15009]
8. González-Curbelo M.Á., Kabak B. (2023). Occurrence of mycotoxins in dried fruits worldwide, with a focus on aflatoxins and ochratoxin A: a review. Toxins. 15: 576. [DOI: 10.3390/toxins15090576]
9. Heshmati A., Mozaffari Nejad A.S. (2015). Ochratoxin A in dried grapes in Hamadan province, Iran. Food Additives and Contaminants: Part B. 8: 255-259. [DOI: 10.1080/19393210.2015.1074945]
10. Heshmati A., Zohrevand T., Mousavi Khaneghah A., Mozaffari Nejad A.S., Sant’Ana A.S. (2017). Co-occurrence of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A in dried fruits in Iran: dietary exposure risk assessment. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 106: 202-208. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2017.05.046]
11. Jangi F., Ebadi M.-T., Ayyari M. (2021). Qualitative changes in hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.) as affected by cold plasma, packaging method and storage duration. Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. 22: 100289. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jarmap.2020.100289]
12. Karaca H., Nas S. (2006). Aflatoxins, patulin and ergosterol contents of dried figs in Turkey. Food Additives and Contaminants. 23: 502-508. [DOI: 10.1080/02652030600550739]
13. Kashfi A.S., Ramezan Y., Khani M.R. (2020). Simultaneous study of the antioxidant activity, microbial decontamination and color of dried peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) using low pressure cold plasma. LWT. 123: 109121. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2020.109121]
14. Kaymak T., Türker L., Tulay H., Stroka J. (2018). Determination of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A in traditional Turkish concentrated fruit juice products by multi-immunoaffinity column cleanup and LC fluorescence detection: single-laboratory validation. Journal of AOAC International. 101: 1839-1849. [DOI: 10.5740/jaoacint.17-0463]
15. Luttfullah G., Hussain A. (2011). Studies on contamination level of aflatoxins in some dried fruits and nuts of Pakistan. Food Control. 22: 426-429. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2010.09.015]
16. Nguyen T., Palmer J., Phan N., Shi H., Keener K., Flint S. (2022). Control of aflatoxin M1 in skim milk by high voltage atmospheric cold plasma. Food Chemistry: 386: 132814. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.132814]
17. Nishimwe K., Agbemafle I., Reddy M.B., Keener K., Maier D.E. (2021). Cytotoxicity assessment of aflatoxin B1 after high voltage atmospheric cold plasma treatment. Toxicon. 194: 17-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.02.008]
18. Oehmigen K., Hähnel M., Brandenburg R., Wilke C., Weltmann K.-D., Von Woedtke T. (2010). The role of acidification for antimicrobial activity of atmospheric pressure plasma in liquids. Plasma Processes and Polymers. 7: 250-257. [DOI: 10.1002/ppap.200900077]
19. Puligundla P., Lee T., Mok C. (2020). Effect of corona discharge plasma jet treatment on the degradation of aflatoxin B1 on glass slides and in spiked food commodities. LWT. 124: 108333. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2019.108333]
20. Rodríguez Ó., Gomes W.F., Rodrigues S., Fernandes F.A.N. (2017). Effect of indirect cold plasma treatment on cashew apple juice (Anacardium occidentale L.). LWT. 84: 457-463. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2017.06.010]
21. Samokhvalova O., Kasabova K., Shmatchenko N., Zagorulko A., Zahorulko A. (2021). Improving the marmalade technology by adding a multicomponent fruit-and-berry paste. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies. 6: 6-14. [DOI: 10.15587/1729-4061.2021.245986]
22. Sarangapani C., O'Toole G., Cullen P.J., Bourke P. (2017). Atmospheric cold plasma dissipation efficiency of agrochemicals on blueberries. Innovative Food Science and Emerging Technologies. 44: 235-241. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ifset.2017.02.012]
23. Shi H., Cooper B., Stroshine R.L., Ileleji K.E., Keener K.M. (2017a). Structures of degradation products and degradation pathways of aflatoxin B1 by high-voltage atmospheric cold plasma (HVACP) treatment. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 65: 6222-6230. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.7b01604]
24. Shi H., Ileleji K., Stroshine R.L., Keener K., Jensen J.L. (2017b). Reduction of aflatoxin in corn by high voltage atmospheric cold plasma. Food and Bioprocess Technology. 10: 1042-1052. [DOI: 10.1007/s11947-017-1873-8]
25. Shiekh K.A., Benjakul S. (2020). Effect of high voltage cold atmospheric plasma processing on the quality and shelf-life of Pacific white shrimp treated with Chamuang leaf extract. Innovative Food Science and Emerging Technologies. 64: 102435. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ifset.2020.102435]
26. Tappi S., Ramazzina I., Rizzi F., Sacchetti G., Ragni L., Rocculi P. (2018). Effect of plasma exposure time on the polyphenolic profile and antioxidant activity of fresh-cut apples. Applied Sciences. 8: 1939. [DOI: 10.3390/app8101939]
27. Ucar Y., Ceylan Z., Durmus M., Tomar O., Cetinkaya T. (2021). Application of cold plasma technology in the food industry and its combination with other emerging technologies. Trends in Food Science and Technology. 114: 355-371. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2021.06.004]
28. Viuda-Martos M., Barber X., Pérez-Álvarez J.A., Fernández-López J. (2015). Assessment of chemical, physico-chemical, techno-functional and antioxidant properties of fig (Ficus carica L.) powder co-products. Industrial Crops and Products. 69: 472-479. [DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2015.03.005]
29. Wang Z., Li S., Ge S., Lin S. (2020). Review of distribution, extraction methods, and health benefits of bound phenolics in food plants. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 68: 3330-3343. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.9b06574]
30. Ziuzina D., Misra N.N., Cullen P.J., Keener K., Mosnier J.P., Vilaró I., Gaston E., Bourke P. (2016). Demonstrating the potential of industrial scale in-package atmospheric cold plasma for decontamination of cherry tomatoes. Plasma Medicine. 6: 397-412. [DOI: 10.1615/PlasmaMed.2017019498]
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
