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Hepatotoxic Action of Chromatographically Separated Fractions of Aspergillus flavus Extracts

Nature volume 195, pages 1301–1303 (1962)Cite this article

Abstract

THE presence in certain groundnut meals of a toxic substance which causes the death of young ducks and turkeys has recently been reported1. The toxin is produced by a strain of the mould Aspergillus flavus growing on the groundnuts2,3. There are two methods for detecting this substance: a biological test with ducklings and a chemical test in which a single, blue fluorescent spot is found on paper chromatograms of extracts of the mould or mould-infected meals. By chromatographing extracts of toxic strains of A. flavus on thin layers of silica-gel we have obtained at least twelve fluorescent components, five of which caused liver lesions when fed to ducklings.

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References

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  2. Sargeant, K., O'Kelly, J., Carnaghan, R. B. A., and Allcroft, R., Vet. Rec., 73, 1219 (1961).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biochemistry Department, British Glues and Chemicals, Ltd., Berkshire House, 168—173 High Holborn, London, W.C.1

    R. H. SMITH & W. MCKERNAN

Authors
  1. R. H. SMITH
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  2. W. MCKERNAN
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SMITH, R., MCKERNAN, W. Hepatotoxic Action of Chromatographically Separated Fractions of Aspergillus flavus Extracts. Nature 195, 1301–1303 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1038/1951301a0

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