Gemede Habtamu Fekadu
Department of Food Technology and Process Engineering, Wollega University, Nekemte P.O. Box 395, Ethiopia.
Toxins (Basel). 2025 Jun 30;17(7):331. doi: 10.3390/toxins17070331.
Aflatoxins, toxic secondary metabolites produced primarily by and , pose significant risks to food safety, public health, and global trade. These mycotoxins contaminate staple crops such as maize and peanuts, particularly in warm and humid regions, leading to economic losses and severe health effects, including hepatocellular carcinoma, immune suppression, and growth impairment. In addition to aflatoxins, Aspergillus species produce other toxic metabolites such as ochratoxin A, sterigmatocystin, and cyclopiazonic acid, which are associated with nephrotoxic, carcinogenic, and neurotoxic effects, respectively. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of aflatoxin toxicity, mitigation strategies, and chemical detection methods. The toxicity of aflatoxins is discussed in relation to their biochemical mechanisms, carcinogenicity, and synergistic effects with other mycotoxins. Various mitigation approaches, including pre-harvest biocontrol, post-harvest storage management, and novel detoxification methods such as enzymatic degradation and nanotechnology-based interventions, are evaluated. Furthermore, advances in aflatoxin detection, including chromatographic, immunoassay, and biosensor-based methods, are explored to improve regulatory compliance and food safety monitoring. This review underscores the need for integrated management strategies and global collaboration to reduce aflatoxin contamination and its associated health and economic burdens. Future research directions should focus on genetic engineering for resistant crop varieties, climate adaptation strategies, and improved risk assessment models.
黄曲霉毒素是主要由黄曲霉和寄生曲霉产生的有毒次生代谢产物，对食品安全、公众健康和全球贸易构成重大风险。这些霉菌毒素污染玉米和花生等主要作物，尤其是在温暖潮湿的地区，导致经济损失和严重的健康影响，包括肝细胞癌、免疫抑制和生长障碍。除黄曲霉毒素外，曲霉属还产生其他有毒代谢产物，如赭曲霉毒素A、杂色曲霉素和环匹阿尼酸，它们分别与肾毒性、致癌性和神经毒性作用相关。本综述对黄曲霉毒素的毒性、缓解策略和化学检测方法进行了全面分析。讨论了黄曲霉毒素的毒性与其生化机制、致癌性以及与其他霉菌毒素的协同作用。评估了各种缓解方法，包括收获前生物防治、收获后储存管理以及酶降解和基于纳米技术的干预等新型解毒方法。此外，还探讨了黄曲霉毒素检测的进展，包括色谱法、免疫分析法和基于生物传感器的方法，以提高监管合规性和食品安全监测。本综述强调了综合管理策略和全球合作以减少黄曲霉毒素污染及其相关健康和经济负担的必要性。未来的研究方向应集中在抗黄曲霉毒素作物品种的基因工程、气候适应策略和改进的风险评估模型上。
