AFLATOXINS AND HUMAN HEALTH

ABSTRACT
Aflatoxins (AF) are the secondary metabolites produced mostly by certain species of
Asperigillus flavus and Asperigillus parasiticus. These toxins have closely similar structures and
form a unique group of highly oxygenated, naturally occurring heterocyclic compounds. Their
molecular formulae are established from elementary analyses and mass spectrometric
determinations. These compounds contaminate a variety of food and feed products and play an
important role in domestic animals and humans health. Also, these compounds caused many
acute disease syndromes, while at lowest levels they can be carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic
or estrogenic and could reduce the productive performance. The performance of animals such as
milk, gain, meat, egg production ….etc., were affected with aflatoxin-contaminated diets.
Aflatoxin AFB1 and its metabolite residues, had been found in muscles and edible organs
of exposed animals (that consumed AF-contaminated feeds), including liver, heart and kidney.
So, humans are exposed to AF by direct consumption of contaminated animal products (meat,
milk, eggs,...). It is therefore, important to keep the AF intake very low, in order to minimize the
danger of AFM1 entering the human food-chain, and that are considered potentially hazardous to
human consumers. The Codex Committee For Food and Additive and Contaminate (CCFAC)
has recently legislated a 0.05 μg / Kg AF limit in dairy concentrate products. Therefore,
practical and least cost-effective methods to detoxify AF-contaminated feedstuffs are in great
demand. Recently, many approaches were applied for the detoxification of AF such as the use
of medicinal herbs mixture (MHM), anti-toxin compounds and Bentonite materials in the diet to
diminish the harmful effects of AF.