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Standardized extraction method for paralytic shellfish toxins in phytoplankton

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Abstract

The optimal conditions were established for extraction of paralytic shellfish toxins from a Danish clone of Alexandrium tamarense using extraction with acetic acid and HCl in the concentration range 0.01–1.0 N. Physical destruction of the cells was investigated microscopically to select the most efficient extraction procedure.

The toxin content was quantitated by an automized isocratic reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The best results as judged from the total amount of toxins and the toxin profile were obtained using 0.05–1.0 N acetic acid and 0.01–0.02 N HCl. Hydrochloric acid in the concentration range 0.03–1.0 N caused the amount of C1 and C2 toxins to decrease sharply and concomitant increase of gonyautoxins 2 and 3.

The phytoplankton extracts with 0.1 to 0.5 N acetic acid or 0.01 N HCl were stable during 6 months at −20 °C, but the extracts with HCl 0.02 N underwent a change in toxin profile, although the total amount of toxins was constant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Ecology & Microciology, National Environmental Research Institute, Frederiksborgvej 399, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark

    H. Ravn

  2. University of Copenhagen, Marine Chemistry Section, H. C. Ørsted Institute, Universitetsparken 5, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

    U. Anthoni, C. Christophersen & P. H. Nielsen

  3. Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Tokohu University, Faculty of Agriculture, 1-1 Tsutsumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 981, Japan

    Y. Oshima

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  1. H. Ravn
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  2. U. Anthoni
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  3. C. Christophersen
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  4. P. H. Nielsen
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  5. Y. Oshima
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Ravn, H., Anthoni, U., Christophersen, C. et al. Standardized extraction method for paralytic shellfish toxins in phytoplankton. J Appl Phycol 7, 589–594 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00003947

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00003947

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