Table 1.
Chemical structure, toxic groups, biological effects of main mycotoxins and producing fungi.
| Mycotoxins | Chemical Structure | Main Toxic Groups | Main Degradation Products | Organ/System Affected | Main Clinical Signs | Producing Fungi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2) |
|
Lactone ring Double bond in difuran ring moiety |
AFB1-8,9dihydrodiol, AFB1-8,9-epoxide, dihydrohydroxyaflatoxin B1, | Liver, kidney, immune system | Hepatitis, carcinogenic, abdominal pain, vomiting, increased susceptibility to disease, immunosuppressive and carcinogenic effects |
Aspergillus. Flavus
A. Parasiticus A. nomius |
| Zearalenones (ZEA) |
|
Lactone ring C-4 hydroxyl group |
α-/β-zearalenol, α-/β-zearalanol,zearalenone-4-sulfate, 1-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-6′-hydroxy-l’-undecen-l0′-one, (5S)-5-({2,4-dihydroxy-6-[(1E)-5-hydroxypent-1-en-1-yl]benzoyl}oxy)hexanoic acid |
Reproductive tract, mainly female | Hyperestrogenism, Reproductive disorders |
Fusarium graminearum
(F. roseum)
F. culmorum F. equiseti F. cerealis F. verticillioides F. incarnatum |
| Ochratoxins (A,B,C) (OTs) |
|
Isocoumarin moiety Carboxyl group of the phenylalanine moietyCl group |
L-βphenylalanine, OTα | Liver, kidney, immune system, inhibit RNA, DNA and protein synthesis in kidney | Nephritis, enlargement of kidney and hepatitis |
A. ochraceus
A. carbonarius A. niger P. verrucosum P. nordicum |
| Fumonisins FBs (B1, B2) |
|
Two tricarballylic acid side chains Free amino group |
2-oxo-12,16-dimethyl-3,5,10,14,15-icosanepentol hemiketal, NacetylAP1, |
Lungs and heart (pig), central nervous system (horse), liver, immune system | Porcine pulmonary edema (PPE), equine leukoencephalomalacia | Fusarium section Liseola |
| Trichothecenes (DON, T-2, HT-2) TCNs |
|
Epoxide group Acylated side groups C9-10 double bond |
HT-2 toxin, T-2 triol, T-2 tetraol, de-epoxy T-2 tetraol, 3α,7α,15α-triacetoxy-deoxynivalenol, de-epoxy deoxynivalenol, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, diaacetoxydeoxynivalenol. Epoxymonoacetoxyscirpenol, de-epoxyscirpentrio |
Central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, liver, immune system | Anorexia, vomiting, abdominal pains, cardiovascular dysfunction |
F. acuminatum F. sporotrichioides F. langsethiae Fusariumgraminearum, F. culmorum F. cerealis F. culmorum F. graminearum F. sporotrichioides F. poae |
| Patulin PAT |
|
Furan, pyran or lactone ring Hemiacetal |
Ascladiol, hydroascladiol, desoxypatulinic acid, 3-keto-5-hydroxypentanal, glyoxylic acid |
Gut epithelium, liver, kidney, immune system | Oral and epithelial lesion, loss of appetite Nausea, vomitin, gastric ulcers |
Penicillim expansum Bysochlamis nívea
Aspergillus clavatus P. griseofulvum |