Effects of Ultraviolet and Electron Beam Irradiation on Aflatoxins and Active Components in Polygala
[Objective]To investigate the effect of electron beam and ultraviolet irradiation on the degradation rate and active components of af-latoxin in Polygala tenuifolia.[Method] High performance liquid chromatography was used to study the effects of different irradiation doses of electron beams, different water contents and different durations of ultraviolet radiation on the degradation rate and active components of aflatox-in in Polygala.[Result]The higher the electron beam irradiation dose, the higher the degradation rate of aflatoxin in Polygala.After 10 kGy e-lectron beam irradiation, the degradation rates of aflatoxins AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2 in Polygala tenuifolia were 19.27%, 19.64%, 15.62%, and 15.14%, respectively.The degradation rates of AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 were the highest in polygala with 28% water content treated with 6 kGy irradiation.The longer the UV irradiation time, the higher the degradation rate of aflatoxin in polygala.The degra-dation rate of aflatoxins decreased with the increase of irradiation distance.There was no significant change in the contents of tenuifolin, polyg-altrione and 3,6′-sinaloyl sucrose after different irradiation treatments.[Conclusion]Electron beam irradiation combined with water content treated and ultraviolet irradiation can effectively degrade aflatoxins in polygala, and has little effect on active components.