Liquid chromatographic determination of the mycotoxin fumonisin B 2 in physiological samples

Abstract

The fungus Fusarium moniliforme produces a group of mycotoxins, the fumonisins, of which the most abundant are fumonisins B 1 (FB1) and B 2 (FB2). Previously developed analytical methods for the determination of FB 1 in physiological samples have been modified for the determination of FB 2 by the use of less polar extraction solvents. Plasma and urine extracts were purified on strong anion-exchange solid-phase extraction cartridges and fecal extracts on reversed-phase (C18) cartridges. FB 2 in purified extracts was determined by reversed-phase HPLC with fluorescence detection using preformed o-phthaldialdehyde derivatives. These methods were reproducible (R.S.D. of less than 6%) with recoveries greater than 85%. In a short preliminary study, they have been applied to the determination of the fate of FB 2 dosed to rats by gavage. Of the dose given to the animals, over 90% was recovered unmetabolised in the feces within 48 h.