Mycotoxins

Mycotoxins is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by fungi. Some mycotoxins can be harmful in small doses as it is very stable and highly carcinogenic. Poisonous fungi or mold are often found in food and feed plantations. One species of fungi can produce many different kinds of mycotoxins and the same mycotoxins can be produced by several species. Fungi that produce the toxin are Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium. Beans, corn, wheat, barley, coffee, pepper, rice, and other kinds of plantations of the sort hold the biggest risk towards mycotoxins. The negative impact of mycotoxins for human health is that it is able to create carcinogen, cytotoxic, estrogen, immunosuppressant, nephrotoxic, neurotoxin and teratogen. There are more than 400 types of mycotoxins that exist today. The most popular ones being: aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin, Ochratoxin, T-2 Toxin and Zearalenon.