Biological degradation of aflatoxins
- 26 January 2009
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Informa UK Limited in Drug Metabolism Reviews
- Vol. 41 (1), 1-7
- https://doi.org/10.1080/03602530802563850
Abstract
Aflatoxins are cancerogenic compounds produced predominantly by certain strains of the Aspergillus genus. The ideal solution for minimization of health risk that aflatoxins pose is the prevention of foods and feeds contamination. Unfortunately, these contaminants can never be completely removed, and on that account, many studies have been carried out to explore an effective process of their detoxification to a threshold level. Biological decontamination seems to be attractive because it works under mild, environmentally friendly conditions. This review is focused on the biological detoxification of aflatoxins, especially aflatoxin B1, by microorganisms. There are briefly mentioned aflatoxin metabolic pathways in the human and animal body. Microorganisms such as soil or water bacteria, fungi, and protozoa and specific enzymes isolated from microbial systems can degrade aflatoxin group members with varied efficiency to less- or nontoxic products. Some aflatoxin-producing fungi from Aspergillus species have the capability to degrade their own synthesized mycotoxins. Yeasts and lactic acid bacteria work as biological adsorbents that prevent aflatoxin's transfer to the intestinal tract of humans and animals. Aflatoxin B1 absorbed into the organism could be metabolized by significantly different pathways. They lead to the production of the relatively nontoxic compounds, on the one hand, or to highly toxic active forms on the other hand.Keywords
This publication has 44 references indexed in Scilit:
- Biological degradation of aflatoxin B1 by Rhodococcus erythropolis culturesInternational Journal of Food Microbiology, 2006
- Mycobacterium fluoranthenivorans sp. nov., a Fluoranthene and Aflatoxin B1 Degrading Bacterium from Contaminated Soil of a Former Coal Gas PlantSystematic and Applied Microbiology, 2004
- Reduction of toxic effects of aflatoxin B1 by using baker yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in growing broiler chicks dietsRevista Brasileira de Zootecnia, 2003
- Detoxification of mycotoxin-contaminated food and feed by microorganismsTrends in Food Science & Technology, 1999
- Biotransformation of aflatoxin B1 in human lungCarcinogenesis: Integrative Cancer Research, 1996
- Fate of Mycotoxins During Processing of Foodstuffs I-Aflatoxin B1 During Making of Egyptian BreadJournal of Food Protection, 1983
- Aflatoxin is degraded by mycelia from toxigenic and nontoxigenic strains of aspergilli grown on different substratesMycopathologia, 1978
- Conversion of aflatoxin B1 to isomeric hydroxy compounds by Rhizopus subspeciesJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 1972
- Aflatoxin G1 metabolism by Rhizopus speciesJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 1971
- Transformation of aflatoxin B1 by steroid-hydroxylating fungiCanadian Journal of Microbiology, 1969