Aflatoxicol H1: a major metabolite of aflatoxin B1 produced by human and rhesus monkey livers in vitro.

Among the major metabolites of aflatoxin B1 produced by human and monkey livers in vitro is a derivative with the ketone carbonyl on the cyclopentane ring reduced to a secondary alcohol, and a hydroxyl introduced onto the carbon beta to the alcohol group. The metabolite was formed from aflatoxin B1 at a level similar to that of aflatoxin M1.Both the microsomal hydroxylase and the cytoplasmic reductase systems are required for its formation. Bioassay using chicken embryos and a mutant of Salmonella typhimurium revealed no toxicity. This newly identified metabolite was named aflatoxicol H1.