Occurrence of ochratoxin A in Astragalus propinquus root and its transfer to decoction.

Mycotoxin Res. 2018 Aug;34(3):223-227. doi: 10.1007/s12550-018-0317-2. Epub 2018 Apr 25. Toman J1, Ostry V2,3, Grosse Y4, Roubal T5, Malir F2. Author information 1 Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, University of Hradec Kralove, Rokitanskeho 62, 500 03, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. jakub.toman.1@uhk.cz. 2 Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, University of Hradec Kralove, Rokitanskeho 62, 500 03, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. 3 Center for Health, Nutrition and Food, National Institute of Public Health in Prague, Palackeho 3a, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic. 4 International Agency for Research on Cancer, 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69372, Lyon Cedex, France. 5 Institute of Public Health in Usti nad Labem, Regional Branch Hradec Kralove, Nezvalova 958, 500 03, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. Abstract The aim of this study was to conduct a survey assessing (a) the ochratoxin A (OTA) content in different samples of Astragalus propinquus root (AR), one of the fundamental herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, and (b) the rate of OTA transfer to AR decoctions that are traditionally used to reduce general weakness and increase overall vitality. A validated method of high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) was used to determine OTA concentrations in AR samples and AR decoctions. The limit of quantification was 0.35 ng/g; the recovery of the HPLC method for AR samples was 82%; and the relative standard deviation (SD) of repeatability was 2.6%. All 40 tested AR samples were positive, with a mean value of 451.0 ng/g (range, 28.8-1700.0 ng/g). The transfer rate of OTA to decoctions, from a naturally contaminated and homogenized AR sample (internal reference material) with a concentration of OTA of 288.9 ng/g ± 12.3 (SD), was 83.4% ± 8.5 (SD). We believe it is necessary to continue OTA monitoring in AR and other herbal products, estimate the actual human usual intake, and perform health risk assessment. KEYWORDS: Astragalus propinquus Schischkin; HPLC-FLD; Herbal food supplement; Herbal products; Ochratoxin A; Traditional Chinese medicine