Aflatoxins and other polar mycotoxins

Aflatoxins and other polar mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by various fungal species, most notably Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, which frequently contaminate food supplies such as maize and peanuts (IARC, 2012). These compounds are not therapeutic targets in the traditional sense but are potent xenobiotics that pose severe risks to human and animal health, including acute aflatoxicosis and chronic liver cancer (WHO, 2018). Aflatoxin B1, the most toxic member, is metabolically activated by cytochrome P450 enzymes (specifically CYP1A2 and CYP3A4) into a highly reactive 8,9-epoxide that binds to DNA, causing G-to-T transversions in the p53 tumor suppressor gene (PubChem, 2023). Other polar mycotoxins, such as deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisins, interfere with eukaryotic ribosomes and sphingolipid metabolism, respectively (NIH, 2021). While they are not targeted by traditional agonists or antagonists, therapeutic intervention focuses on the use of enteric sequestrants like hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) to prevent absorption, or chemopreventive agents like oltipraz that induce glutathione S-transferase to facilitate detoxification (Kensler et al., 2011).

Other names

MycotoxinsFungal toxinsAspergillus toxinsFoodborne toxins

Sequestration via physical adsorption in the gastrointestinal tract to prevent systemic absorption, or chemoprevention via induction of phase II detoxification enzymes.