Toxicogenic fungi and their mycotoxins in tea

Supervisor: Assoc. Dr. Violeta Baliukoniene Volume: 52 pages, 15 pictures, 5 tables, 2 affixes. The aim of the study: to evaluate the herbs grown in Lithuania and disposed of black and herbal teas toxicogenic fungal infection and mycotoxin contamination. During the experiment was carried out viable fungi spores (colony forming units) setting dilution method and mycotoxicological study. 22 samples were collected from supermarkets and pharmacies: 9 - black tea samples (bulk and tea bags), 13 - herbal tea samples (bulk and tea bags). It was determined that herbal teas grown in Lithuania prevailed toxicogenic Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp. and Mucor spp. fungi. The highest Aspergillus spp. contaminated in lemon balm bulk tea - 4.0x103 cfu/g, at least - chamomile tea bags, mint bulk tea and marigold bullk tea - 0.5x103 cfu/g, 0.5x103 cfu/g, 0.5x103 cfu/g, respectively. The highest Penicillium spp. contaminated in thyme bulk tea - 2.5x103 cfu/g, mint, raspberry leaf, linden blossom bulk teas this genus fungi were not found. Mucor spp. most contaminated in raspberry leaf bulk tea - 9.5x103 cfu/g, mint and linden blossom bulk teas this genus fungi were not found. In Lithuania realizing black teas established the prevailing Aspergillus spp., herbal teas dominated by Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp. Herbal teas and black teas contaminated with aflatoxin B1, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin, ochratoxin A. The highest concentration was zearalenone (ZEA) and deoxynivalenol (DON) mycotoxins (the highest ZEA concentration was found in lemon balm tea bags - 1000 µg/kg, the highest DON concentration was found in black tea – “Madras” - 800 µg/kg)