Seasonal variation in aflatoxins levels in edible seeds, estimation of its dietary intake and vitamin E levels from Southern Areas of Punjab, Pakistan
A total of 779 samples of edible nuts (melon seeds, watermelon seeds, pumpkin seeds, and cantaloupe seeds) from Southern Punjab (Pakistan), were collected during the summer and the winter seasons. The natural occurrence of aflatoxins (AFs) and vitamin E (tocopherols) levels were investigated using H...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Published: |
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
2020
|
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/87541/ |
| _version_ | 1848860454762315776 |
|---|---|
| author | Abdull Razis, Ahmad Faizal Shehzad, Muhammed Muzammel Usman, Sunusi Basheir Ali, Nada Iqbal, Shahzad Zafar Naheed, Nadia Asi, Muhammad Rafique |
| author_facet | Abdull Razis, Ahmad Faizal Shehzad, Muhammed Muzammel Usman, Sunusi Basheir Ali, Nada Iqbal, Shahzad Zafar Naheed, Nadia Asi, Muhammad Rafique |
| author_sort | Abdull Razis, Ahmad Faizal |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | A total of 779 samples of edible nuts (melon seeds, watermelon seeds, pumpkin seeds, and cantaloupe seeds) from Southern Punjab (Pakistan), were collected during the summer and the winter seasons. The natural occurrence of aflatoxins (AFs) and vitamin E (tocopherols) levels were investigated using HPLC. The results have shown that 180 (43.4%) of samples from the winter season and 122 (33.4%) samples from the summer season were found positive for AFs. Elevated average levels of total AFs (20.9 ± 3.10 μg/kg, dry weight) were observed in watermelon seeds without shell, and the lowest average amount (15.9 ± 3.60 μg/kg) were documented in melon seeds without shell samples from the winter season. An elevated average amount of total AFs 17.3 ± 1.50 μg/kg was found in pumpkin seeds available without a shell. The results have documented a significant difference in total AFs levels in edible seeds available with shells versus without shells (α = 0.05 & 0.01). The highest dietary intake of 6.30 μg/kg/day was found in female individuals from consuming pumpkin seeds (without shell) in the winter season. A value of 3.00 μg/kg/day was found in pumpkin seed without shell in the summer season in female individuals. The highest total tocopherol levels were 22.2 ± 7.70 ng/100 g in pumpkin seeds samples from the winter season and 14.5 ± 5.50 mg/100 g in melon seed samples from the summer season. The variation of total tocopherol levels in edible seeds among the winter and summer seasons showed a significant difference (p ≤ 0.0054), except watermelon seeds samples with non-significant differences (p ≥ 0.183). |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T12:45:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-87541 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T12:45:30Z |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-875412022-11-23T02:36:13Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/87541/ Seasonal variation in aflatoxins levels in edible seeds, estimation of its dietary intake and vitamin E levels from Southern Areas of Punjab, Pakistan Abdull Razis, Ahmad Faizal Shehzad, Muhammed Muzammel Usman, Sunusi Basheir Ali, Nada Iqbal, Shahzad Zafar Naheed, Nadia Asi, Muhammad Rafique A total of 779 samples of edible nuts (melon seeds, watermelon seeds, pumpkin seeds, and cantaloupe seeds) from Southern Punjab (Pakistan), were collected during the summer and the winter seasons. The natural occurrence of aflatoxins (AFs) and vitamin E (tocopherols) levels were investigated using HPLC. The results have shown that 180 (43.4%) of samples from the winter season and 122 (33.4%) samples from the summer season were found positive for AFs. Elevated average levels of total AFs (20.9 ± 3.10 μg/kg, dry weight) were observed in watermelon seeds without shell, and the lowest average amount (15.9 ± 3.60 μg/kg) were documented in melon seeds without shell samples from the winter season. An elevated average amount of total AFs 17.3 ± 1.50 μg/kg was found in pumpkin seeds available without a shell. The results have documented a significant difference in total AFs levels in edible seeds available with shells versus without shells (α = 0.05 & 0.01). The highest dietary intake of 6.30 μg/kg/day was found in female individuals from consuming pumpkin seeds (without shell) in the winter season. A value of 3.00 μg/kg/day was found in pumpkin seed without shell in the summer season in female individuals. The highest total tocopherol levels were 22.2 ± 7.70 ng/100 g in pumpkin seeds samples from the winter season and 14.5 ± 5.50 mg/100 g in melon seed samples from the summer season. The variation of total tocopherol levels in edible seeds among the winter and summer seasons showed a significant difference (p ≤ 0.0054), except watermelon seeds samples with non-significant differences (p ≥ 0.183). Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2020-12-02 Article PeerReviewed Abdull Razis, Ahmad Faizal and Shehzad, Muhammed Muzammel and Usman, Sunusi and Basheir Ali, Nada and Iqbal, Shahzad Zafar and Naheed, Nadia and Asi, Muhammad Rafique (2020) Seasonal variation in aflatoxins levels in edible seeds, estimation of its dietary intake and vitamin E levels from Southern Areas of Punjab, Pakistan. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (23). pp. 1-14. ISSN 1660-4601 https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/23/8964 10.3390/ijerph17238964 |
| spellingShingle | Abdull Razis, Ahmad Faizal Shehzad, Muhammed Muzammel Usman, Sunusi Basheir Ali, Nada Iqbal, Shahzad Zafar Naheed, Nadia Asi, Muhammad Rafique Seasonal variation in aflatoxins levels in edible seeds, estimation of its dietary intake and vitamin E levels from Southern Areas of Punjab, Pakistan |
| title | Seasonal variation in aflatoxins levels in edible seeds, estimation of its dietary intake and vitamin E levels from Southern Areas of Punjab, Pakistan |
| title_full | Seasonal variation in aflatoxins levels in edible seeds, estimation of its dietary intake and vitamin E levels from Southern Areas of Punjab, Pakistan |
| title_fullStr | Seasonal variation in aflatoxins levels in edible seeds, estimation of its dietary intake and vitamin E levels from Southern Areas of Punjab, Pakistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seasonal variation in aflatoxins levels in edible seeds, estimation of its dietary intake and vitamin E levels from Southern Areas of Punjab, Pakistan |
| title_short | Seasonal variation in aflatoxins levels in edible seeds, estimation of its dietary intake and vitamin E levels from Southern Areas of Punjab, Pakistan |
| title_sort | seasonal variation in aflatoxins levels in edible seeds, estimation of its dietary intake and vitamin e levels from southern areas of punjab, pakistan |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/87541/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/87541/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/87541/ |