THERMAL-DEGRADATION OF PARALYTIC SHELLFISH POISON

Components of paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) were heated under various conditions, and examined for changes in toxicity and in HPLC and TLC behaviors. The thermal degradation of PSP components progressed as a first order reaction, at different rates depending upon component and temperature. A mixture of gonyautoxin 2 and gonyautoxin 3 when dissolved in water and heated at 100-degrees, 110-degrees, and 120-degrees-C (180 min) retained 39, 17, and less than 3%, respectively, of initial toxicity. A mixture of gonyautoxin 1 and gonyautoxin 4 was more thermolabile; i.e. it retained little toxicity when heated at 120-degrees-C for 60 min. HPLC and TLC analyses demonstrated that heating under those conditions converted PSP components into other substances.