Relation Between Ergosterol and Various Mycotoxins in Different Cheeses

Abstract

Thirteen different mostly consumed cheese samples were obtained from different provinces inTurkey and were investigated in terms of contents of ergosterol, patulin and Ochratoxin A (OTA).Ergosterol, patulin and OTA analyses were carried out by using the apparatus of high-performanceliquid chromatography (HPLC). Ergosterol contents of samples ranged from 30.27±0.69 to144.76±9.41 mg/kg. The values of OTA in the samples were ranged from 6.96±0.05 to 41±0.2 µg/kg.Ergosterol was significantly correlated with OTA (r = 0.99, R2 = 0.98). According to this highcorrelation, ergosterol might be used as a more readily measurable indicator of potential OTAproduction. No patulin was detected in all samples. Absence of patulin on cheese samples may beexplained with unsuitable media for patulin producing