First report of aflatoxin and ochratoxin contamination in ginger collected from different agroclimatic zones from Punjab, Pakistan

Ginger, a fresh rhizome, an economically important spice with extensive nutraceutical activities finds itself in vegetable and therapeutic market. Aflatoxins (AFB₁, AFB₂, AFG₁ and AFG₂) along with ochratoxin A (OTA) are the most significant and the most toxic form of mycotoxins which are produced by various fungi. This study was initiated to assess the contamination of AFs and OTA in raw and dried ginger products, collected from different agro-climatic zones in Punjab, Pakistan employing the high performance liquid chromatography. We found all (raw ginger samples commercial ginger powders) samples contaminated with AFB₁ (range: 29.88–1060.12 μg/kg). AFB₂ contamination was much lower (range: 0–17.54 μg/kg). Variable contamination of AFG₁ was also observed (range: 0–170.58 μg/kg) whereas AFG₂ contamination was found in only three (range: 0–21.88 μg/kg) out of 19 raw ginger samples. OTA contamination ranged from 0.05 to 3.42 μg/kg. Ginger samples from lower altitudes (<1000 m) were more contaminated with AFB₁ sub type mycotoxin. Keeping in view that the toxicity of AFs is in the order of B₁>G₁> B₂>G₂, it was alarming to find that 100% of the samples were contaminated with AFB₁ way beyond the permissible limits. Our very first report about the contamination of ginger with AFs presents a grave health issue because of wide use of ginger. We conclude that ginger production in Pakistan needs to be carefully crafted and due diligence is needed during ginger cultivation, harvest and post-harvest operations because the amount of aflatoxins detected in this study are very much above the permissible limits. In this regard, ginger storage in cooler environments such as refrigerator should be encouraged to contain the AFs proliferation.