Background
Aflatoxin B1 is an aflatoxin produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, which is a potent carcinogen, and its carcinogenic potency varies by species, with rats and monkeys, for example, being more susceptible. Aflatoxin was first discovered in 1960 after a "Turkey X disease" epidemic, when more than 100,000 turkeys in the United Kingdom suddenly showed signs of poisoning and died within a few months. It was later discovered that the pathogen responsible for this incident was a metabolite of Aspergillus flavus, which came to be known as aflatoxin. There are four compounds produced by A. flavus that belong to the same group of aflatoxins: aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2, aflatoxin G1 and aflatoxin G2. Aflatoxin B1 is a common contaminant in a wide variety of foods, including peanuts, cottonseed meal, corn and other grains, and animal feed, and is considered to be the most toxic aflatoxin currently available and is capable of causing hepatocellular carcinoma in humans. In addition, it also affects the life and health of animals, with mutagenicity, teratogenicity and immunosuppression.
Figure 1. Schematization of the different factors linked with aflatoxin production
(Source: Caceres I, et al. 2020)
Taking measures to prevent crop contamination in the field, post-harvest treatment and preservation, timely detection of product contamination and removal of aflatoxin B1 from contaminated products can effectively manage aflatoxin B1 exposure. Countries have formulated relevant regulations on the content of aflatoxin B1 in food. According to the food safety regulations of the United States, the maximum allowable content of aflatoxin B1 in milk is 0.5 μg/kg, and the content of other foods except milk should be less than 20 μg/kg.
Currently, the commonly used methods for detecting aflatoxin B1 in food include thin-layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectrometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), etc. Creactive Diagnostics provides aflatoxin B1 ELISA Kit for quantitative determination of aflatoxin B1 levels in grains, feed, milk, milk powder, enzymes, biscuits, soy sauce, vinegar, oil and peanuts. Our advantages are high extraction recovery, rapid detection, high sensitivity and good reproducibility.
Alternative Names
AFB1 ELISA Kit
References
- 1. Caceres I, et al. Aflatoxin Biosynthesis and Genetic Regulation: A Review. Toxins (Basel). 2020 Feb 28;12(3):150.
- 2. Liu H, et al. Curcumin alleviates AFB1-induced nephrotoxicity in ducks: regulating mitochondrial oxidative stress, ferritinophagy, and ferroptosis. Mycotoxin Res . 2023 Nov;39(4):437-451.
References
Curcumin alleviates AFB1-induced nephrotoxicity in ducks: regulating mitochondrial oxidative stress, ferritinophagy, and ferroptosis
Mycotoxin Res
Authors: Liu H, He Y, Gao X, Li T, Qiao B, Tang L, Lan J, Su Q, Ruan Z, Tang Z, Hu L.
Abstract
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), an extremely toxic mycotoxin that extensively contaminates feed and food worldwide, poses a major hazard to poultry and human health. Curcumin, a polyphenol derived from turmeric, has attracted great attention due to its wonderful antioxidant properties. Nevertheless, effects of curcumin on the kidneys of ducks exposed to AFB1 remain unclear. Additionally, the underlying mechanism between AFB1 and ferroptosis (based on excessive lipid peroxidation) has not been sufficiently elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects and potential mechanisms of curcumin against AFB1-induced nephrotoxicity in ducklings. The results indicated that curcumin alleviated AFB1-induced growth retardation and renal distorted structure in ducklings. Concurrently, curcumin inhibited AFB1-induced mitochondrial-mediated oxidative stress by reducing the expression levels of oxidative damage markers malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxy-2 deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and improved the expression of mitochondria-related antioxidant enzymes and the Nrf2 pathway. Notably, curcumin attenuated iron accumulation in the kidney, inhibited ferritinophagy via the NCOA4 pathway, and balanced iron homeostasis, thereby alleviating AFB1-induced ferroptosis in the kidney. Collectively, our results suggest that curcumin alleviates AFB1-induced nephrotoxicity in ducks by inhibiting mitochondrial-mediated oxidative stress, ferritinophagy, and ferroptosis and provide new evidence for the mechanism of AFB1-induced nephrotoxicity in ducklings treated with curcumin.
Early-life AFB1 exposure: DNA methylation and hormone alterations
Vitam Horm
Authors: Rotimi OA, De Campos OC, Adelani IB, Olawole TD, Rotimi SO.
Abstract
Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites of mold that contaminate food and feedstuff. They are found in various food including grains, nuts, milk and eggs. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most poisonous and commonly found of the various types of aflatoxins. Exposures to AFB1 start early in life viz. in utero, during breastfeeding, and during weaning through the waning foods which are mainly grain based. Several studies have shown that early-life exposures to various contaminants may have various biological effects. In this chapter, we reviewed the effects of early-life AFB1 exposures on changes in hormone and DNA methylation. In utero AFB1 exposure results in alterations in steroid and growth hormones. Specifically, the exposure results in a reduction in testosterone levels later in life. The exposure also affects the methylation of various genes that are significant in growth, immune, inflammation, and signaling pathways
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