Toxic Compounds Formed on Prolonged Heating of Citrinin under Watery Conditions

Citrinin was partially decomposed by heating under aqueous conditions at 90°C for > 10 min and a group of degraded compounds (Group I) was detected by TLC. At 100°C and 110°C, citrinin disappeared rapidly, and the cytotoxicity of the samples increased with prolonged heating. At 120°C, citrinin disappeared more rapidly while TLC spots of Group I compounds also diminished upon >20 min heating and a new group of compounds (Group II) appeared. Cytotoxicity decreased rapidly at > 120°C and was eliminated after 10 min at 130°C. Group I appeared to contain toxic compound(s) but Group II did not. Heating citrinin under conditions similar to cooking may cause formation of additional cytotoxic compounds.