Pereira, ElianaBarros, LillianAntonio, Amilcar L.Cabo Verde, SandraSantos-Buelga, CelestinoFerreira, Isabel C.F.R.Rodrigues, Paula2018-01-252018-01-302018-01-252018-01-302017Pereira, Eliana; Barros, Lillian; Antonio, Amilcar L.; Verde, Sandra Cabo; Santos-Buelga, Celestino; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Rodrigues, Paula (2017). Is gamma radiation suitable to preserve phenolic compounds and to decontaminate mycotoxins in aromatic plants? A case-study with aloysia citrodora paláu. Molecules. ISSN 1420-3049. 221420-3049http://hdl.handle.net/10198/15305This study aimed to determine the effect of gamma radiation on the preservation of phenolic compounds and on decontamination of dry herbs in terms of ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), using Aloysia citrodora Paláu as a case study. For this purpose, artificially contaminated dry leaves were submitted to gamma radiation at different doses (1, 5, and 10 kGy; at dose rate of 1.7 kGy/h). Phenolic compounds were analysed by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS and mycotoxin levels were determined by HPLC-fluorescence. Eleven phenolic compounds were identified in the samples and despite the apparent degradation of some compounds (namely verbasoside), 1 and 10 kGy doses point to a preservation of the majority of the compounds. The mean mycotoxin reduction varied between 5.3% and 9.6% for OTA and from 4.9% to 5.2% for AFB1. It was not observed a significant effect of the irradiation treatments on mycotoxin levels, and a slight degradation of the phenolic compounds in the irradiated samples was observed.engAflatoxin b1ChromatographyGamma radiationHerbsOchratoxin APhenolic compoundsjournal article10.3390/molecules22030347