Nation-Based Occurrence and Endogenous Biological Reduction of Mycotoxins in Medicinal Herbs and Spices

Abstract

Medicinal herbs have been increasingly used for therapeutic purposes against a diverse range of human diseases worldwide. Moreover, the health benefits of spices have been extensively recognized in recent studies. However, inevitable contaminants, including mycotoxins, in medicinal herbs and spices can cause serious problems for humans in spite of their health benefits. Along with the different nation-based occurrences of mycotoxins, the ultimate exposure and toxicities can be diversely influenced by the endogenous food components in different commodities of the medicinal herbs and spices. The phytochemicals in these food stuffs can influence mold growth, mycotoxin production and biological action of the mycotoxins in exposed crops, as well as in animal and human bodies. The present review focuses on the occurrence of mycotoxins in medicinal herbs and spices and the biological interaction between mold, mycotoxin and herbal components. These networks will provide insights into the methods of mycotoxin reduction and toxicological risk assessment of mycotoxin-contaminated medicinal food components in the environment and biological organisms.

The synergistic potential of various teas, herbs and therapeutic drugs in health improvement: a review

“…Fungal contamination of raw materials can lead to mycotoxin accumulation during storage and post‐harvest processing of herbal raw materials, including tea, resulting in kidney disease, liver disease and oesophageal cancer . A review of mycotoxin contamination of herbs and spices purchased from Turkey, Spain, USA, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and India showed contamination of more than the tolerable level of 4–30 μg kg −1 in most herbs, including tea …”

“…121 A review of mycotoxin contamination of herbs and spices purchased from Turkey, Spain, USA, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and India showed contamination of more than the tolerable level of 4-30 g kg −1 in most herbs, including tea. 122,123…”

Modulation Activity of Ayurvedic Antioxidants Against Ochratoxin (Ota) Toxicity

“…In addition, most of the main components in the herbs have a positive influence on the actions of mycotoxins as natural countervailing factors [1]. Herbal medicines such as antagonizing components by blending with OTA-mycotoxins, lead to metabolic inactivation аnd reduce the toxicity induced by the mycotoxins [1].…”

“…However, various pollutants and harmful micotoxins located mainly in food and feed permanently damage the health of animals and humans. Over the last decades, has been explored the possibility of preventing the toxic effects of various mycotoxins by combining them with endogenous antagonist components contained in medicinal herbs and spices [1]. Mycotoxins are group of structurally diverse fungal secondary metabolites belonging to the Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium species.…”

Mycotoxigenic fungi in plant-based supplements and medicines

“…Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by different fungi, mainly by toxigenic species of the genus Alternaria, Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium. According to Do et al [10], aflatoxins (AFs), ochratoxin A (OTA), fumonisins (FB), zearalenone (ZEN) and deoxynivalenol (DON) are the most frequently detected in herbal medicines and can cause severe health problems like immunosuppression, carcinogenesis, genotoxic, hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects [11,12].…”