Identification of Fusarium Species Contaminating Hibiscus sabdariffa in Jigawa state and Quantitative Assessment of Fumonosin (FB1) Produced

Abstract

Fungal species are known to be notorious fungal contaminants causing damage to food and feed samples and at the same time producing mycotoxins that compromise the health status of both human and animals. Twenty seven (27) samples of dried Hibiscus sabdarifa were sourced from nine (9) local government areas (L.G.As). Three (3) L.G.As were randomly selected from each of the three senatorial districts of Jigawa State (11^o 47’ 00’’N, 4^o 44’ 00’’E) viz: Babura, Roni, Maigatari, Hadejia, Kafin Hausa, Auyo, Buji, Gwaram and Miga L.G.As. Fumonisin producing fungal species were isolated from the collected samples by the mycological analytical procedures under aseptic condition. The macro and microscopic identifications of Fusarium species was done following the standard identification keys while other identification keys were employed for other species. Their mycotoxigenicity was also determined using the appropriate methods. Extraction and quantitative determination of the fumonisin was performed using high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy (HPLC/MS). Auyo being a wetland area and more humid, has the heighest concentration of the mycotoxin (FB1) at 2052.93±24.34 µg/kg while sample extract from Roni was observed to have a mean value of 1712.9±18.4 µg/kg  and Maigatari has the lowest concentration of the toxin at 1630.27±21.76 µg/kg. Values obtained from the study areas are quite higher than the daily tolerable intake limits set by regulatory bodies such as WHO, Codex alimentarius and European food Safety Agency (EFSA) and therefore, call for immediate and coordinated mobilization of mitigation strategies to safeguard the health of the consumers and sustain the relevance of the commodity in the international markets.