A review on aflatoxins in stored grain food, their sources, mechanisms and possible health hazard

Abstract

The aflatoxin producing fungi Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, and Aspergillus nomius are highly hepatotoxic, carcinogenic and immunosuppressive which can spread quickly in environment and contaminate stored food. It can lead to serious threats to both human and animal health hazards by causing various diseases. Aflatoxin can breakdown DNA and causes genomic damage during cell division, leading to cancer even death where these breakdown products accumulate in the liver. The chemistry and biosynthesis process of the aflatoxin is discussed in present review study in a nutshell along with their occurrences and the health hazards to human. This review focuses on sources, production, biosynthesis, toxicology, detection, and control techniques of aflatoxins to assure food safety. Present review study is valuable as it provides knowledge on aflatoxins toxicity which helps in food security and safety as well as reduces human diseases in future.

May phytophenolics alleviate aflatoxins-induced health challenges? A holistic insight on current landscape and future prospects

“…The effects of AFs on the BBB were also investigated such that the outcomes showed that AFs (in particular AFB1) could alter mitochondrial gene expression profile in the human BBB cells model ( 243 ). More interestingly, AFB1 could inhibit the electron transport chain function, affect ATP synthesis and dysregulate key genes in mitochondria ( 243 ), leading to genetic mutations and DNA damage ( 244 ).…”

Mitochondrial transcriptional study of the effect of aflatoxins, enniatins and carotenoids in vitro in a blood brain barrier model

“…AFB1 mechanism of action implies inhibition of the ETC between CIII and CIV with a wide spectrum causing mutations and other DNA damage (Sharma et al 2018). T-2 mycotoxin was found to reduce activity of mitochondrial complexes III, IV and V. Also, T-2 activated apoptosis pathway caspase-9 and 3 in chondrocytes and mitochondrial cytochrome c release (Liu et al 2014).…”

“…Protein loss is linked with uncontrolled cell growth and tumor formation (Hu et al 2015). AFB1 has been found to inhibit the Electron Transport Chain (ETC) at the cytochrome oxidase level, precisely between cytochrome b1 and c, inducing also the release of different ROS species (Theumer et al 2018;Sharma 2018). Also, affinity of AFB1 for mitochondrial genes is 3 or 4 times higher than for nuclear DNA.…”

Characteristics, Occurrence, Detection and Detoxification of Aflatoxins in Foods and Feeds

“…Aflatoxins are the main mycotoxins synthesized by Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus and A. nomius [37][38][39]. Aflatoxin-related contamination by fungi can occur in food and feed products (e.g., cocoa, spices, figs, rice, wheat, maize, sesame seeds, millet, and groundnuts) during the processes before and after harvesting [40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52]. Moreover, AF can contaminate commercial products such as cosmetics, cooking oil, and peanut butter.…”