scholarly journals Implication of aflatoxins as potent carcinogens

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-45
Author(s):  
Fatima Mukhtar
Keyword(s):  
Animal Health ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
International Agency ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Statistical Tool ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Global Challenge ◽  
Mycotoxigenic Fungi ◽  
Food And Feed

Aspergillus species influence human and animal health directly and indirectly with a significant economic impact on the society. A. flavus and A. parasiticus are the two major species that produce aflatoxins. Several mycotoxins are reported from several other mycotoxigenic fungi of which the aflatoxins are the most toxic and damaging polyketides. Economically important crops such as maize, rice, cotton seed, peanuts, and spices are all susceptible to contamination of aflatoxin. The aim of this review is to make an extensive review and come up with ways to curtail this global challenge on how to manage aflatoxin contamination in crops and other food products since the toxins have been classified as potent carcinogens and about 25% of food is being lost due to aflatoxin contamination annually. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) conducted evaluation of several chemicals of their carcinogenic potential and classified aflatoxins as most potent natural, known human carcinogens. The methodology was by selecting the most recent researches conducted on new techniques to be employed in overcoming the issue of aflatoxin contamination both during the pre and post-harvest strategies. The Data gathered was subjected to appropriate statistical tool so as to come up with more improved techniques. It was found that both chemical and physical methods have certain drawbacks which may lead to drop in human and animal health, cause a significant decline in the quality of food products, losses of nutritional value, high cost and cause undesirable health effects, but biological methods using microorganisms seems more promising, they provide an attractive alternative tool for removing toxins and safeguarding the value of food and feed in an eco-friendly way. Key words: Aflatoxin, Contamination, Crops, Pre and Post-harvest.

scholarly journals TOXICOLOGICAL AND HYGIENIC CHARACTERISTICS OF MYCOTOXIN STERIGMATOCYSTIN AND METHODS FOR ITS DETERMINATION IN FOOD PRODUCTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina B. Sedova ◽  
M. G. Kiseleva ◽  
L. P. Zakharova ◽  
V. A. Tutelyan
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Structure ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Food Products ◽  
International Agency ◽  
Primary Target ◽  
Teratogenic Effects ◽  
Similar Chemical ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
International Data ◽  
Almost All

The present issue reviews literature and own research data and gives toxicological and hygienic characteristic of sterigmatocystin. This mycotoxin is produced by fungi of Aspergillus, Bipolaris, Chaetomium, Emiricella species, and is found in cereals, food products (bread, cheese, spices, coffee, dietary supplements) and feed. Sterigmatocystin being a biogenic precursor of aflatoxin B1, has similar chemical structure and exhibits the same toxicological properties, but its toxicity is ten times lower. However, these toxins are rarely detected together. A. versicolor and A. nidulans do not have enzymes necessary for the conversion of sterigmatocystin into aflatoxins, on the contrary, A. flavus and А. parasiticus transform almost all STC into aflatoxins. Sterigmatocystin has been recognized by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a 2B carcinogen (possibly carcinogenic to humans). The primary target organ for both mycotoxins is liver. Sterigmatocystin shows mutagenic, toxic and teratogenic effects in animals. Up to date national and international data on sterigmatocystin occurrence in different products is summarized, analytical methods of the determination are reviewed, hygienic assessment of the STC as a priority pollutant is given in the present paper. Also information on STC exposure assessment with regard to different kinds of foodstuff in different countries is being reported, available data on maximum levels of STC in food and feed is discussed. However, data on toxin’s occurrence in food is insufficient for elaboration of hygienic regulations on allowable mycotoxin’s concentration in priority products. Databases Web of Science, PubMed, E-library, CyberLeninka were used when searching the literature.

scholarly journals Aflatoxin contamination in Tanzania: quantifying the problem in maize and groundnuts from rural households

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
S.B. Boni ◽  
F. Beed ◽  
M.E. Kimanya ◽  
E. Koyano ◽  
O. Mponda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Aflatoxin Level ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Aflatoxin B

Aflatoxins are toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites, produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, which contaminate food and feed and threaten human and animal health. To assess the prevalence of aflatoxins in Tanzania, 180 groundnut and 200 maize samples were collected from 9 and 10 districts, respectively. Aflatoxin contamination was quantified using high performance liquid chromatography. Aflatoxins were detected in samples collected from all districts and prevalence ranged from 92 to 100% for groundnuts and 10 to 80% for maize. The mean aflatoxin level for groundnuts was 6.37 μg/kg and the highly contaminated sample had 40.31 μg/kg. For maize, the mean aflatoxin level was 12.47 μg/kg and the highly contaminated sample had 162.40 μg/kg. The estimated average probable daily intake (APDI) of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) from groundnuts consumption was 1.88 ng/kg body weight/day, while for maize, it ranged between 151.98-272.89 ng/kg body weight/day. The APDI for both groundnut and maize exceeded the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) of AFB1 for adults (1 ng/kg body weight/day), bringing about health concerns for populations in Tanzania. Another alarming finding was that 75% of the farmers who provided samples for analysis were not aware of aflatoxins or the negative health impacts from consuming contaminated products. Results reported in this paper show that aflatoxin contaminated staple crops are widely distributed in Tanzania and that the risk of human exposure is high due to diet preferences. Awareness campaigns are required to inform and protect farmers and consumers.

scholarly journals Aflatoxin Contamination in Agricultural Commodities

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (04) ◽  
pp. 148-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. N. Rajarajan ◽  
K. M. Rajasekaran ◽  
N. K. Asha Devi
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Flavus ◽  
Aflatoxin B1 ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Aflatoxin M1 ◽  
Organic Substrates ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Hydroxylated Metabolite ◽  
Carcinogenic Compound

Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring Mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Aspergillus flavus is common and widespread in nature and is most often found when certain grains are grown under stressful conditions such as draught. The mold occurs in soil, decaying vegetation, hay and grains undergoing microbiological deterioration and invades all types of organic substrates whenever and wherever the conditions are favourable for its growth. Favourable conditions include high moisture content and high temperature.The aflatoxin group is comprised of aflatoxin B1,B2,G1 and G2. In addition , aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), a hydroxylated metabolite of AFB1, is excreted in the milk of dairy cows consuming an AFB1-contaminated ration. Aflatoxin B1 a prototype of the aflatoxins, is widely recognized as the most potent hepato carcinogenic compound and along with other certain members of the group, possess additional toxic properties including mutagenicity, tetrogenicity, acute cellular toxicity and it suppresses the immune system. Aflatoxin contamination of food and feed has gained global significance as a result of its deleterious effects on human as well as animal health. The marketability of food products is adversely affected by aflatoxin contamination.

Challenges facing the biological control strategy for eliminating aflatoxin contamination

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.C. Ehrlich ◽  
G.G. Moore ◽  
J.E. Mellon ◽  
D. Bhatnagar
Keyword(s):  
Animal Health ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Aflatoxin Production ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Persistent Problem ◽  
Cost Benefit Ratio ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Potential Damage ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Biocontrol Strain

Competition with Aspergillus flavus isolates incapable of aflatoxin production is currently the most widely used biocontrol method for reducing aflatoxin contamination in maize and cottonseed where aflatoxin contamination is a persistent problem for human and animal health. The method involves spreading non-aflatoxigenic A. flavus spores onto the field prior to harvest. How competition works is not fully understood. Current theories suggest that atoxigenic A. flavus either simply displaces aflatoxin-producing isolates or that competition is an active inhibition process that occurs when the fungi occupy the same locus on the plant. In this paper we describe several challenges that the biocontrol strategy should address before this practice is introduced worldwide. These include the need to better understand the diversity of A. flavus populations in the agricultural soil, the effects of climate change on both this diversity and on plant susceptibility, the ability of the introduced biocontrol strain to outcross with existing aflatoxin-producing A. flavus, the adaptation of certain A. flavus isolates for predominant growth on the plant rather than in the soil, the difficulty in timing the application or controlling the stability of the inoculum, the effect of the introduction of the biocontrol strain on the soil microenvironment, the potential damage to the plant from the introduced strain, and the overall need to better understand the entire A. flavus toxin burden, beyond that of aflatoxin, that may result from A. flavus contamination. In addition, the cost/benefit ratio for the biocontrol method should be considered in comparing this method to other methods for reducing food and feed contamination with aflatoxins.

scholarly journals Temperature Influences on Interactions Among Aflatoxigenic Species of Aspergillus Section Flavi During Maize Colonization

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Connel Ching'anda ◽  
Joseph Atehnkeng ◽  
Ranajit Bandyopadhyay ◽  
Kenneth A. Callicott ◽  
Marc J. Orbach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Interactions ◽  
Type Species ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Aflatoxin Production ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Fungal Metabolites ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Temporal And Spatial ◽  
Maize Kernels

Fungal species within Aspergillus section Flavi contaminate food and feed with aflatoxins. These toxic fungal metabolites compromise human and animal health and disrupt trade. Genotypically and phenotypically diverse species co-infect crops, but temporal and spatial variation in frequencies of different lineages suggests that environmental factors such as temperature may influence structure of aflatoxin-producing fungal communities. Furthermore, though most species within Aspergillus section Flavi produce sclerotia, divergent sclerotial morphologies (small or S-type sclerotia vs. large or L-type sclerotia) and differences in types and quantities of aflatoxins produced suggest lineages are adapted to different life strategies. Temperature is a key parameter influencing pre- and post-harvest aflatoxin contamination of crops. We tested the hypothesis that species of aflatoxin-producing fungi that differ in sclerotial morphology will vary in competitive ability and that outcomes of competition and aflatoxin production will be modulated by temperature. Paired competition experiments between highly aflatoxigenic S-type species (A. aflatoxiformans and Lethal Aflatoxicosis Fungus) and L-type species (A. flavus L morphotype and A. parasiticus) were conducted on maize kernels at 25 and 30°C. Proportions of each isolate growing within and sporulating on kernels were measured using quantitative pyrosequencing. At 30°C, S-type fungi were more effective at host colonization compared to L-type isolates. Total aflatoxins and the proportion of B vs. G aflatoxins were greater at 30°C compared to 25°C. Sporulation by L-type isolates was reduced during competition with S-type fungi at 30°C, while relative quantities of conidia produced by S-type species either increased or did not change during competition. Results indicate that both species interactions and temperature can shape population structure of Aspergillus section Flavi, with warmer temperatures favoring growth and dispersal of highly toxigenic species with S-type sclerotia.

scholarly journals Biological control of mycotoxin-producing molds

2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 483-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flávio Henrique Vasconcelos de Medeiros ◽  
Samuel Julio Martins ◽  
Tiago Domingues Zucchi ◽  
Itamar Soares de Melo ◽  
Luis Roberto Batista ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Chemical Compounds ◽  
The Public ◽  
Mycotoxin Contamination ◽  
Mycotoxigenic Fungi ◽  
Food And Feed

Mycotoxins are produced by the secondary metabolism of many fungi and can be found in almost 25% of the world's agricultural commodities. These compounds are toxic to humans, animals, and plants and therefore, efforts should be made to avoid mycotoxin contamination in food and feed. Besides, up to 25% of all harvested fruits and vegetables are lost due to storage molds and/or mycotoxin contamination and many methods have been applied to mitigate these issues, but most of them rely on the use of fungicides. Although chemicals are often the first defensive line against mycotoxigenic fungi, the indiscriminate use of fungicides are awakening the public perception due to their noxious effects on the environment and human/animal health. Thus, there is an increasing public pressure for a safer and eco-friendly alternative to control these organisms. In this background, biological control using microbial antagonists such as bacteria, fungi and yeasts have been shown to be a feasible substitute to reduce the use of chemical compounds. Despite of the positive findings using the biocontrol agents only a few products have been registered and are commercially available to control mycotoxin-producing fungi. This review brings about the up-to-date biological control strategies to prevent or reduce harvested commodity damages caused by storage fungi and the contamination of food and feed by mycotoxins.

scholarly journals The Application of Pollen as a Functional Food and Feed Ingredient—The Present and Perspectives

Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandar Ž. Kostić ◽  
Danijel D. Milinčić ◽  
Miroljub B. Barać ◽  
Mohammad Ali Shariati ◽  
Živoslav Lj. Tešić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Food ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Feed Ingredient ◽  
Nutritional Properties ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Animal Growth ◽  
Further Development

Pollen is recognized as an excellent dietary supplement for human nutrition, which is why it can be found in different forms on the market (granules, capsules, tablets, pellets, and powders). But, the digestibility of pollen’s nutrients is strongly affected by the presence of a pollen shell, which can decrease the bioavailability of nutrients by 50% and more. Since consumers have become more aware of the benefits of a healthy diet and the necessity to improve pollen digestibility, different pollen-based functional food products have been developed and extensive studies were done to estimate the beneficial effects of pollen-based feed on animal growth, health, and rigor mortise stage. Considering the positive effects of pollen nutrients and phytometabolites on human and animal health, the aim of this paper was to give an overview of recent achievements in the application of pollen in the formulation of functional food and animal diets. Special attention was paid to the effects of pollen’s addition on the nutritional, functional, techno-functional, and sensory properties of the new formulated food products. Anti-nutritional properties of pollen were also discussed. This review points out the benefits of pollen addition to food and feed and the possible directions in the further development of functional food and feed for the wellbeing of everyone.

scholarly journals Review of Immunological Methods for the Quantification of Aflatoxins in Peanut and Other Foods

2009 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farid Waliyar ◽  
S. V. Reddy ◽  
P. Lava-Kumar
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Quantitative Estimation ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Immunological Methods ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
High Risk Populations ◽  
Resistant Genotypes

Abstract Aflatoxin contamination is widespread in staple crops like peanut, maize, sorghum, pearl millet, chillies, pistachio, cassava etc., and compromises the safety of food and feed supplies. It is important to be able to detect and quantify aflatoxins in commodities to protect human and animal health. Many different methods, including antibody-based ones, are available for quantitative estimation of aflatoxins. However, most of these methods such as HPLC, HPTLC, and TLC are expensive and/or difficult to use in developed countries. Using the state-of-the-art facilities at ICRISAT, we developed polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies for the detection of total aflatoxins, aflatoxin B1 and M1 (secreted in milk). These were used to develop a simple and inexpensive competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (cELISA) that has lower detection limits (1.0 µg/kg) and cost (about $1 per sample) less than other available methods. More than 100 samples can be analyzed in a day. These tests have provided a unique opportunity for ICRISAT and its partners to conduct field studies to select resistant genotypes, identify high risk populations and determine the dietary sources to stimulate appropriate interventions to enhance the food and human health safety, trade and thereby farmers' income.

Food waste bioconversion into new food: A mini-review on nutrients circularity in the production of mushrooms, microalgae and insects

2021 ◽  
pp. 0734242X2110381
Author(s):  
Francesca Girotto ◽  
Laura Piazza
Keyword(s):  
Food Waste ◽  
Optimal Growth ◽  
World Population ◽  
Cultivation Conditions ◽  
Health Security ◽  
Global Challenge ◽  
Factors Analysis ◽  
Growing Medium ◽  
The World ◽  
Food And Feed

The global challenge of feeding an ever-increasing world population is leading scientists’ attention towards nutritious and sustainable foods whose production should have low impacts on environment, economy and society. In case the input feedstock can be waste nutrients, the label of such productions becomes even greener. Nutrients circularity is nowadays an important circular economy practice. This mini-review focuses on the valorisation of food waste as precious biomass to grow new food and feed. In particular, three functional edibles are discussed in the present paper: mushrooms, microalgae and insects. These foods are part of people diets since ages in certain areas of the world and the original aspect of their cultivation and breeding found on waste nutrients recovery is here reviewed. Proofs of such food waste biorefinery viability are already given by several researches featuring the main traits of a suitable growing medium: optimal pool of nutrients and optimal pH. However, lot of work still needs to be done in order to assess the optimal growth and cultivation conditions and the health security of the harvested/bred edibles. A SWOT factors analysis was performed.

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