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Gwinn KD, Leung MCK, Stephens AB, Punja ZK. Fungal and mycotoxin contaminants in cannabis and hemp flowers: implications for consumer health and directions for further research. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1278189. [PMID: 37928692 PMCID: PMC10620813 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1278189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Medicinal and recreational uses of Cannabis sativa, commonly known as cannabis or hemp, has increased following its legalization in certain regions of the world. Cannabis and hemp plants interact with a community of microbes (i.e., the phytobiome), which can influence various aspects of the host plant. The fungal composition of the C. sativa phytobiome (i.e., mycobiome) currently consists of over 100 species of fungi, which includes phytopathogens, epiphytes, and endophytes, This mycobiome has often been understudied in research aimed at evaluating the safety of cannabis products for humans. Medical research has historically focused instead on substance use and medicinal uses of the plant. Because several components of the mycobiome are reported to produce toxic secondary metabolites (i.e., mycotoxins) that can potentially affect the health of humans and animals and initiate opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients, there is a need to determine the potential health risks that these contaminants could pose for consumers. This review discusses the mycobiome of cannabis and hemp flowers with a focus on plant-infecting and toxigenic fungi that are most commonly found and are of potential concern (e.g., Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, and Mucor spp.). We review current regulations for molds and mycotoxins worldwide and review assessment methods including culture-based assays, liquid chromatography, immuno-based technologies, and emerging technologies for these contaminants. We also discuss approaches to reduce fungal contaminants on cannabis and hemp and identify future research needs for contaminant detection, data dissemination, and management approaches. These approaches are designed to yield safer products for all consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly D. Gwinn
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Maxwell C. K. Leung
- School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Arizona State University, Glendale, AZ, United States
| | - Ariell B. Stephens
- School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Arizona State University, Glendale, AZ, United States
| | - Zamir K. Punja
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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Hwang IM, Jeong JY, Park B, Choi JY, Khan N, Jamila N, Yoon BR, Kim JS. Quantification and health risk assessment of ochratoxin A in dried fruit, spices, and coffee. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2023; 40:1275-1284. [PMID: 37607248 DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2023.2245055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a stable toxin produced by fungal strains of Aspergillus and Penicillium. It is commonly found in a variety of food products, including dried fruit, coffee, and spices, raising concerns about their safety. This study was aimed to quantify OTA levels in different food products using HPLC with fluorescence detection. The pre-treatment process was optimised by employing immunoaffinity columns with Tween 20 to effectively remove interfering substances. An analytical method was developed, validated, and applied for OTA analysis in dried fruit, spices, and coffee samples. The validation procedure included determining detection and quantification limits, linearity, precision, and accuracy, as per the criteria specified by AOAC International. The validated method was successfully applied for OTA analysis in the selected food samples. Furthermore, health risk assessment was conducted based on the average intake and body weight of the Korean population. From the results, concentrations of OTA in the samples were found to be very low and therefore concluded not to pose significant threats to consumer health.
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Affiliation(s)
- In Min Hwang
- Fermentation Regulation Research Group, World Institute of Kimchi, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Young Jeong
- Fermentation Regulation Research Group, World Institute of Kimchi, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Boyeon Park
- Fermentation Regulation Research Group, World Institute of Kimchi, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Yeon Choi
- Food Analysis Research Center, Korea Food Research Institute, Wanju, Republic of Korea
| | - Naeem Khan
- Department of Chemistry, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Nargis Jamila
- Department of Chemistry, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Bo Ryun Yoon
- KOTITI Testing & Research Institute, Gyeonggi do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Sung Kim
- KOTITI Testing & Research Institute, Gyeonggi do, Republic of Korea
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Luo S, Liu Y, Guo Q, Wang X, Tian Y, Yang W, Li J, Chen Y. Determination of Zearalenone and Its Derivatives in Feed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry with Immunoaffinity Column Cleanup and Isotope Dilution. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14110764. [PMID: 36356014 PMCID: PMC9697342 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14110764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was established for the determination of zearalenone and its five derivatives in feed, including zearalanone, α-zearalanol, β-zearalanol, α-zearalenol, and β-zearalenol. An effective immunoaffinity column was prepared for sample purification, which was followed by the silane derivatization of the eluate after an immunoaffinity chromatography analysis for target compounds by GC-MS. Matrix effects were corrected by an isotope internal standard of zearalenone in this method. The six analytes had a good linear relationship in the range of 2-500 ng/mL, and the correlation coefficients were all greater than 0.99. The limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) were less than 1.5 μg/kg and 5.0 μg/kg, respectively. The average spike recoveries for the six feed matrices ranged from 89.6% to 112.3% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 12.6%. Twenty actual feed samples were analyzed using the established method, and at least one target was detected. The established GC-MS method was proven to be reliable and suitable for the determination of zearalenone and its derivatives in feed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunlin Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ying Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qi Guo
- Clover Technology Group Inc., Beijing 100044, China
| | - Xiong Wang
- Clover Technology Group Inc., Beijing 100044, China
| | - Ying Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Wenjun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Juntao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Correspondence: (J.L.); (Y.C.)
| | - Yiqiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Correspondence: (J.L.); (Y.C.)
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Buchicchio L, Asselborn L, Schneider S, van Nieuwenhuyse A, Moris G, Schummer C. Investigation of aflatoxin and ochratoxin A contamination of seized cannabis and cannabis resin samples. Mycotoxin Res 2022; 38:71-78. [PMID: 35028912 DOI: 10.1007/s12550-022-00449-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Recreational cannabis is being legalized in more and more countries, and methods for the determination of contaminants, thereunder mycotoxins, start to emerge in scientific literature. On the other hand, cannabis continues being available on the illegal market without any quality control at all. Today, no information about mycotoxin contamination of illegal cannabis is available in literature. Therefore, in order to increase knowledge about mycotoxin contamination of cannabis, aflatoxins (AF) and ochratoxin A (OTA) were analyzed in 142 samples of illegal cannabis seized on the local market using a method based on HPLC-FLD detection, after clean up with immuno-affinity cartridges. AF were derivatized prior to detection with a Kobra cell. No AF contamination (LOD = 0.04 µg/kg) was detected in any of the samples analyzed. OTA however was detected in about one-third of the samples with an average concentration of 4.30 µg/kg (range from 1.02 to 16.21 µg/kg). No significant difference was observed between resin and herbal samples. Overall, the concentrations remain low and do not suggest an issue to human health if the cannabis consumption remains moderate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laetitia Buchicchio
- Service de Surveillance Alimentaire, Laboratoire National de Santé, 1 Rue Louis Rech, 3555, Dudelange, Luxembourg
| | - Laurent Asselborn
- Service de Surveillance Alimentaire, Laboratoire National de Santé, 1 Rue Louis Rech, 3555, Dudelange, Luxembourg
| | - Serge Schneider
- Service de Toxicologie Analytique Et Chimie Pharmaceutique, Laboratoire National de Santé, 1 Rue Louis Rech, 3555, Dudelange, Luxembourg
| | - An van Nieuwenhuyse
- Département des Laboratoires de Protection de La Santé, Laboratoire National de Santé, 1 Rue Louis Rech, 3555, Dudelange, Luxembourg.,Center for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Gilbert Moris
- Service de Surveillance Alimentaire, Laboratoire National de Santé, 1 Rue Louis Rech, 3555, Dudelange, Luxembourg
| | - Claude Schummer
- Service de Surveillance Alimentaire, Laboratoire National de Santé, 1 Rue Louis Rech, 3555, Dudelange, Luxembourg.
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Goldman S, Bramante J, Vrdoljak G, Guo W, Wang Y, Marjanovic O, Orlowicz S, Di Lorenzo R, Noestheden M. The analytical landscape of cannabis compliance testing. J LIQ CHROMATOGR R T 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/10826076.2021.1996390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia Bramante
- Cannabis Sciences Program, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Gordon Vrdoljak
- Department of Cannabis Control, Cannabis Testing Laboratory Branch, Richmond, CA, USA
| | - Weihong Guo
- Department of Cannabis Control, Cannabis Testing Laboratory Branch, Richmond, CA, USA
| | - Yun Wang
- Department of Cannabis Control, Cannabis Testing Laboratory Branch, Richmond, CA, USA
| | - Olivera Marjanovic
- Department of Cannabis Control, Cannabis Testing Laboratory Branch, Richmond, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Matthew Noestheden
- SCIEX, Concord, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, Canada
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