Zearalenone and its metabolites: occurrence, detection, toxicity and guidelines

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Gromadzka ◽  
A. Waskiewicz ◽  
J. Chelkowski ◽  
P. Golinski

Zearalenone is a mycotoxin produced by some Fusarium species in food and feed. From a global perspective, Fusarium mycotoxins may be considered as metabolites of particular importance to animal health and productivity. The aim of this review is to collect and summarise information concerning the properties of zearalenone, its derivatives and their biotransformation. Data on the occurrence and toxicity of zearalenone and a comparison of analytical methods used in zearalenone identification and quantification will also be discussed. As our awareness and understanding of the risks associated with zearalenone exposure increase, some countries set official or recommended limits in certain commodities.

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Jestoi ◽  
M. Kokkonen ◽  
S. Uhlig

Most Fusarium species are capable of producing mycotoxins that may cause adverse effects on human or animal health. The most commonly studied Fusarium mycotoxins include trichothecenes, zearalenone and fumonisins. However, it seems that nearly all of the most prevalent Fusarium species infecting grains are also capable of producing other toxic metabolites. The existing studies, although exiguous, have clearly demonstrated that other toxic metabolites of Fusarium spp. are also present in our foods and feeds, occasionally at very high levels. It is apparent that since mycotoxins, including these 'other' metabolites, are natural toxins, they cannot be completely eliminated from food and feed chains. However, scientific studies are needed to determine their true significance. Thus, the mechanism and level of toxicity as well as presence and concentration levels will have to be fully clarified. In this paper, we briefly review the prevalence of the dominant Fusarium species contaminating maize and small-grain cereals worldwide, and the current knowledge on the biological activity as well as the natural occurrence of their selected less-known toxic metabolites. Additionally, the significance of these 'other' Fusarium mycotoxins is discussed.


2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oana Stanciu ◽  
Roxana Banc ◽  
Anamaria Cozma ◽  
Lorena Filip ◽  
Doina Miere ◽  
...  

AbstractThe quality of cereals is very important for both human and animal nutrition. Fusarium mycotoxins include a great number of compounds. Trichothecenes, zearalenone (ZEN) and fumonisins are the major Fusarium mycotoxins occurring in cereal grains, animal feeds and forages. Conditions that predispose to mycotoxin production by Fusarium species include humidity, temperature, aeration and substrate type. Even if a great number of fungal metabolites have been designated as mycotoxins, a small number are known to have significant animal/human health and economic significance. For this, the world-wide impact of mycotoxins on human and animal health is likely underestimated and the future in this area is to identify additional specific biomarkers and group of biomarkers that can be used to establish the exposition of human and animals to individual mycotoxins.


2000 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
SUZHEN LI ◽  
R. R. MARQUARDT ◽  
D. ABRAMSON

Molds are widely distributed in nature and cause deterioration of foods and feeds. Their mycotoxins can adversely affect human and animal health. Suitable assays for molds, therefore, are required to implement control and regulatory strategies and to develop appropriate feeding regimens for mold-infested feeds. Many different types of mold assays have been used, most of which are not reproducible or accurate. However, the immunoassays, particularly enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), can be especially useful. Among these, assays that detect the water-soluble extracellular secretions of fungi, the exoantigens, are generally able to detect fungi at the genus or species level, whereas the heat-stable polysaccharides tend to be specific for one or more genus of fungi. Several species and genus (genera)–specific ELISAs have been developed using monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against exoantigens and heat-stable polysaccharides from a wide range of fungi, including Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium species. Other assays have been developed that nonspecifically detect mold in food or feed, some using antibodies against a mixture of antigens from different fungi. These assays are highly sensitive, are easy to perform, and provide an index of the amount of mold present in the sample. Further refinement of these assays should facilitate their widespread use by food and feed processors, regulatory agencies, taxonomists, and research scientists.


2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. De Boevre ◽  
S. Landschoot ◽  
K. Audenaert ◽  
P. Maene ◽  
Diana Di Mavungu ◽  
...  

Maize ear rot caused by several Fusarium species is an important fungal disease. Apart from yield losses, ear rot fungi can produce mycotoxins and masked forms in infected grains. Masked mycotoxins have received increased attention in view of their bioavailability and potential toxicity in animals and humans, but their presence and relevance in the field still remain undisclosed. To get a better insight, the present study assessed the presence of various Fusarium parent and masked mycotoxins, i.e. deoxynivalenol, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside, zearalenone, α-zearalenol, β-zearalenol, zearalenone-14-glucoside, zearalenone-14-sulfate, α-zearalenol-14-glucoside, β-zearalenol-14-glucoside, T-2 and HT-2 toxin, in various commercial maize varieties grown under natural infection conditions in Flanders, Belgium. The results showed that the maize varieties were co-contaminated with both parent and masked mycotoxins. Moreover, a positive correlation between these forms was established. A higher contamination with a particular mycotoxin appeared to be coupled with an elevated load of another (masked) mycotoxin. The results highlight the importance to screen for multiple mycotoxins, both parent and masked, to guarantee food and feed safety. Furthermore, analysis was carried out to elucidate the distribution of the various mycotoxins in the field. The maize variety did not significantly influence mycotoxin accumulation, except for deoxynivalenol. Subdivisions in the field with higher mycotoxin levels for deoxynivalenol and its derivatives, zearalenone and its derivatives, and the sum of T-2 and HT-2 toxin were observed.


Pathogens ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Zachetti ◽  
Eugenia Cendoya ◽  
María Nichea ◽  
Sofía Chulze ◽  
María Ramirez

The objectives of the present study were to determine the combined effects of chitosan and water activity (aW) on growth and mycotoxin production in situ on the two most important Fusarium species (F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides) present on maize, and on F. graminearum, the main pathogen causing Fusarium head blight on wheat. Results showed that low-molecular-weight chitosan with more than 70% deacetylation at the lowest dose used (0.5 mg/g) was able to reduce deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisin (FBs) production on irradiated maize and wheat grains. Growth rates of F. graminearum also decreased at the lowest chitosan dose used (0.5 mg/g), while F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum growth rates were reduced at 0.98 aW at the highest chitosan dose used (2 mg/g). Since mycotoxins are unavoidable contaminants in food and feed chains, their presence needs to be reduced in order to minimize their effects on human and animal health and to diminish the annual market loss through rejected maize and wheat; in this scenario, pre- and post-harvest use of chitosan could be an important alternative.


Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (15) ◽  
pp. 2827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moratalla-López ◽  
Bagur ◽  
Lorenzo ◽  
Salinas ◽  
Alonso

Crocus sativus L. has been cultivated throughout history to obtain its flowers, whose dried stigmas give rise to the spice known as saffron. Crocetin esters, picrocrocin, and safranal are the main metabolites of this spice, which possess a great bioactivity, although the mechanisms of action and its bioavailability are still to be solved. The rest of the flower is composed by style, tepals, and stamens that have other compounds, such as kaempferol and delphinidin, which have an important antioxidant capacity, and these can be applied in foods, phytopharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The aim of this work was to provide an updated and critical review of the research on the main compounds of Crocus sativus L. flower, including the adequate analytical methods for their identification and quantification, with a focus on their bioactivity and bioavailability.


Toxins ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 438
Author(s):  
Mary E. Ridout ◽  
Bruce Godfrey ◽  
George Newcombe

Fusarium species coexist as toxigenic, systemic pathogens in sweet corn seed production in southwestern Idaho, USA. We hypothesized that fungal antagonists of seedborne Fusarium would differentially alter production of Fusarium mycotoxins directly and/or systemically. We challenged the Fusarium complex by in vitro antagonism trials and in situ silk and seed inoculations with fungal antagonists. Fungal antagonists reduced growth and sporulation of Fusarium species in vitro from 40.5% to as much as 100%. Pichia membranifaciens and Penicillium griseolum reduced fumonisin production by F. verticillioides by 73% and 49%, respectively, while P. membranifaciens and a novel Penicillium sp. (WPT) reduced fumonisins by F. proliferatum 56% and 78%, respectively. In situ, pre-planting inoculation of seeds with Penicillium WPT systemically increased fumonisins in the resulting crop. Morchella snyderi applied to silks of an F1 cross systemically reduced deoxynivalenol by 47% in mature seeds of the F2. Antagonists failed to suppress Fusarium in mature kernels following silk inoculations, although the ratio of F. verticillioides to total Fusarium double with some inoculants. Fusarium mycotoxin concentrations in sweet corn seed change systemically, as well as locally, in response to the presence of fungal antagonists, although in Fusarium presence in situ was not changed.


2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 332-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kempf ◽  
M. Wittig ◽  
A. Reinhard ◽  
K. von der Ohe ◽  
T. Blacquière ◽  
...  

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