Photochemical Changes of Aflatoxin B1

Irradiation of aflatoxins B1 and G1 with UV light (principal wavelength 𝀈365 mμ) converts both compounds to new fluorescent photoproducts which have much lower R1 values than aflatoxin B1 and G1 when chromatographed on silica gel thin layer plates. Photoproducts of aflatoxin B1 form much faster on a silica gel surface than in methanol solution. Photoconversion of aflatoxin B1 is shown to alter fluorescence comparison assays and identification tests. Studies show that the principal photoproduct developed from aflatoxin B1 is significantly less toxic than the parent aflatoxin.