Simultaneous detection of Anatoxin-a and Microcystin-LR from cyanobacterial strain s using high-performance liquid chromatogra phy and LC-ESI-MS method

A method has been developed for the simultaneous extraction, purification and detection of cyanobacterial toxins (hepatotoxin and neurotoxin) from a single batch of Microcystis aeruginosa and Anabaena flos-aquae. After several extractions and adsorption on to C-18 sep-pak cartridge, the cyanobacterial toxins have been detected both by high performance liquid chromatography and LC-ESI-mass spectrometry. Anatoxin-a and Microcystin-LR have been detected in UTEX-2383 and UTEX-2385 strains of Anabaena flos-aquae and Microcystis aeruginosa respectively.