The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
cell wall preparations in the adsorption of ochratoxin A (OTA). The study involved the use
of a brewer’s yeast cell wall devoid of protein substances, glucans obtained by water and
alkaline extraction, a glucan commercially available as a dietary supplement for animals and,
additionally, dried brewer’s yeast for comparison. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR)
analysis of the obtained preparations showed bands characteristic for glucans in the resulting
spectra. The yeast cell wall preparation, water-extracted glucan and the commercial glucan
bound the highest amount of ochratoxin A, above 55% of the initial concentration, and the
alkaline-extracted glucan adsorbed the lowest amount of this toxin. It has been shown that
adsorption is most effective at a close-to-neutral pH, while being considerably limited in
alkaline conditions.
Keywords: ochratoxin A; yeast; adsorption;