DETERMINATION OF 'FUNGAL AND AFLATOXIN CONTAMINATION OF CIGARETfE TOBACCO AND TOXICITY SCREENING OF CRUDE EXTRACTS OF THE FUNGI IN MICE

Abstract

Tobacco from 32 commercial brands of cigarettes were analyzed for the presence of fungal and aflatoxin contamination; thirty of the 32 brands analyzed were contaminated with up to 17 different types of Fungi species producing a total of 115 isolates on culture. Fifty Nine (51 %) of the isolates elaborated mycotoxins on rice medium. A dose of 5mg/kg(body weight) of the secondary metabolites produced were administered unto healthy young male mice weighing about 300g through intraperitoneal route and they exhibited varying degree of acute toxicity (lethality) on the test animals. Some isolates elaborated secondary metabolites that induced 100% mortality, while others produced metabolites that had 0% lethality on the test animals. Between them, there was a broad spectrum percentage of mortality induced by the test substance. On direct screening for aflatoxin in the cigarette tobacco, six of the cigarettes samples, representing 18% were found to have aflatoxin contamination. These results suggest that cigarettes marketed in Nigeria may also produce mycotoxin - telated toxicity in smokers due to fungal contamination.