Biomaterial Database

Improvements in the thin-layer chromatography of natural products. I. Thin-layer chromatography of the aflatoxins. 1975

J G Heathcote, and J R Hibbert

During the period which has elapsed since the aflatoxins were first isolated, one of the main problems has been the separation of the individual aflatoxins in pure form from aflatoxin-containing extracts. This separation has been best effected by thin-layer chromatography, and in this paper we describe how some of the difficulties may be overcome by using an appropriate combination of solvent system and silica gel preparation. For the examination of aflatoxin-containing extracts from the mycelia of Aspergillus flavus moulds, an initial freeze-drying step has been found to improve appreciably the quality of the chromatograms obtained.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010860	Pigments, Biological	Any normal or abnormal coloring matter in PLANTS; ANIMALS or micro-organisms.	Biological Pigments
D002725	Chloroform	A commonly used laboratory solvent. It was previously used as an anesthetic, but was banned from use in the U.S. due to its suspected carcinogenicity.	Trichloromethane
D002855	Chromatography, Thin Layer	Chromatography on thin layers of adsorbents rather than in columns. The adsorbent can be alumina, silica gel, silicates, charcoals, or cellulose. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Chromatography, Thin-Layer,Thin Layer Chromatography,Chromatographies, Thin Layer,Chromatographies, Thin-Layer,Thin Layer Chromatographies,Thin-Layer Chromatographies,Thin-Layer Chromatography
D005612	Freeze Drying	Method of tissue preparation in which the tissue specimen is frozen and then dehydrated at low temperature in a high vacuum. This method is also used for dehydrating pharmaceutical and food products.	Lyophilization,Drying, Freeze,Dryings, Freeze,Freeze Dryings,Lyophilizations
D000085	Acetates	Derivatives of ACETIC ACID. Included under this heading are a broad variety of acid forms, salts, esters, and amides that contain the carboxymethane structure.	Acetate,Acetic Acid Esters,Acetic Acids,Acids, Acetic,Esters, Acetic Acid
D000096	Acetone	A colorless liquid used as a solvent and an antiseptic. It is one of the ketone bodies produced during ketoacidosis.
D000348	Aflatoxins	Furano-furano-benzopyrans that are produced by ASPERGILLUS from STERIGMATOCYSTIN. They are structurally related to COUMARINS and easily oxidized to an epoxide form to become ALKYLATING AGENTS. Members of the group include AFLATOXIN B1; aflatoxin B2, aflatoxin G1, aflatoxin G2; AFLATOXIN M1; and aflatoxin M2.	Aflatoxin
D000431	Ethanol	A clear, colorless liquid rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and distributed throughout the body. It has bactericidal activity and is used often as a topical disinfectant. It is widely used as a solvent and preservative in pharmaceutical preparations as well as serving as the primary ingredient in ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.	Alcohol, Ethyl,Absolute Alcohol,Grain Alcohol,Alcohol, Absolute,Alcohol, Grain,Ethyl Alcohol
D000432	Methanol	A colorless, flammable liquid used in the manufacture of FORMALDEHYDE and ACETIC ACID, in chemical synthesis, antifreeze, and as a solvent. Ingestion of methanol is toxic and may cause blindness.	Alcohol, Methyl,Carbinol,Sodium Methoxide,Wood Alcohol,Alcohol, Wood,Methoxide, Sodium,Methyl Alcohol
D001231	Aspergillus flavus	A species of imperfect fungi which grows on peanuts and other plants and produces the carcinogenic substance aflatoxin. It is also used in the production of the antibiotic flavicin.	Aspergillus parvisclerotigenus,Petromyces flavus