Aflatoxin detoxification in tortillas using an infrared radiation thermo-alkaline process: Cytotoxic and genotoxic evaluation

Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites with mutagenic, carcinogenic, teratogenic and immunosuppressive capacity in humans, the occurrence of which in maize grain is widespread. Nixtamalization, a process based on alkaline cooking, including infrared radiation, may be a suitable method for detoxification of this toxin. In this work, we carried out a cytotoxic and genotoxic evaluation of the extracts from maize (ME), tortilla from an infrared nixtamalization process (TEIR) and tortilla from a traditional nixtamalization process (TET) using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde production), oxidative damage (glutathione modulation), Ames test (mutagenic response), and Comet assay (DNA damage). The formation capacity of the AFB1-Lysine (AFB1-Lys) adduct using maize and tortilla extracts was also tested. The infrared nixtamalization process showed a reduction of up to 93% of aflatoxins in tortillas, with a decrease in cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in all the tests performed. However, with TEIR and TET, AFB1-Lys adduct was not formed. We concluded that the process of nixtamalization with infrared radiation can be used for the detoxification of aflatoxins in tortillas. •IRNP managed to reduce 93.82% of aflatoxins in maize tortillas.•Tortilla extracts from IR nixtamalization showed a cytotoxic low potential.•Ames test and comet assay indicated that TEIR are not genotoxic.•Formation capacity of AFB1-Lys adduct was non-existent with TEIR.•IRNP is an adequate process for detoxification of aflatoxins in maize tortillas.