Introduction to Mycotoxins

Dr.Kedar Karki

What are Mycotoxins??Mycotoxin is a toxin produced by a fungus under special conditions of moisture and temperature.

What are Mycotoxins?? 5,000 years ago in China. Early 1861, was reported in Russia 1891, there was a report of mouldy

rice in Japan 1960, is the time of the discovery of

aflatoxin.

Common Members of the Mycotoxin Family

Aflatoxins Trichothecenes Zearalenone Fumonisin Ochratoxins Slaframine

Food containing MycotoxinsMycotoxi

nOrganism Foods

Aflatoxin A. flavus, A. paraciticus Corn,peanuts,cottonseed,etc.

Citrisin Penicillium citrinum Wheat,barley,peanutsOchratoxin A

A. ochraceus, R. veridicatum, R. cyolopium

Corn,barley,wheat, peanuts

Patulin A. clavatus, R. patuluns Silage, applesPenicillic acid

A. clavatus, R. puberulum Corn, beans

Alternariol Alternaria tenuis, A. dauci Weathered grain, sorghum, pecan pickouts

Zearalenone Fusarium roseum, E. moniliforme, F. nivale, E. oxysporum

Corn, sorghum, wheat

Fumonisin Fusarium Corn

What is Aflatoxin??Aflatoxin is the name for a group of toxins (poisonous chemical compounds) that are produced by two fungi called Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus.

AflatoxinsFour primary aflatoxins, named B1, B2, G1 and G2 plus two additional metabolic products, M1 and M2. The case with aflatoxin toxicity and carcinogenicity has been established for aflatoxin - induced mutagenic activity and DNA damage.

Foods Corn Barley Cottonseed Peanuts Sorghum Wheat Silage

Tree nuts Milk Apples Oats Beans Weathered grain Potatoes

Symptom Edema of legs and

feet Abdominal pain Vomit Acute hepatitis Convulsion

Cirrhosis Carcinoma of liver Fever Jaundice Acute necrosis Malaise

AflatoxicosisAflatoxicosis is primarily a hepatic disease.

Aflatoxin B1 and Tumor Induction

Aflatoxin B1 and Tumor Induction