Citation
Ab Dullah, Siti Soleha
(2022)
Risk assessment of aflatoxin B1 in herbal medicines and plant food supplements marketed in Malaysia through margin of exposure approach.
Masters thesis, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Abstract
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a mycotoxin produced by several species
of Aspergillus fungi that can induce liver cancer in animals and humans upon
ingestion of AFB1-contaminated food. This study aims to perform the risk
assessment of AFB1 in herbal medicines and plant food supplements (PFS)
marketed in Malaysia through the margin of exposure (MOE) approach. A total
of 31 herbal medicines and PFS samples were purchased through online
platforms and over-the-counter using targeted sampling method. Samples
extracted with 70% methanol were subjected to immunoaffinity column filtration
and quantified using ELISA assay. Next, the MOE was calculated using the
benchmark dose lower level of 10 (BMDL10) of 63.46 ng/kg bw/day derived from
the animal carcinogenicity data, and the estimated daily intake (EDI) among
Malaysian adults ranged from 0.006 to 10.456 ng/kg bw/day. MOE below 10,
000 indicate the urgency for risk management actions. The estimated
percentage of liver cancer attributable to AFB1 exposure was calculated by
dividing the target population risk per year per 100,000 population by the agestandardised
incidence rate for liver cancer. AFB1 was detected in 80.6% of
samples analysed at a level ranging from 0.275 to 13.941 μg/kg. The calculated
MOE ranged from 6.07 to 10227.35. In total, 24 (96%) out of 25 positive samples
had MOE below 10,000. The risk of liver cancer ranged from 0 to 0.261 cancers
per 100,000 population per year and the estimated percentage of liver cancer
incidence ranged from 0.002% to 4.149%. This study found a moderate risk of
liver cancer in Malaysian populations due to AFB1 from herbal medication and
PFS, emphasising the need for risk management measures.
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