A comparative study on cytotoxicities and biochemical properties of anthraquinone mycotoxins emodin and skyrin from Penicillium islandicum Sopp.

The anthraquinone mycotoxins emodin and skyrin were examined for the inhibitory effects on murine leukemia L1210 culture cells, oxidative phosphorylation of rat liver mitochondria, and Na+, K+-activated ATPase activity of rat brain microsomes to find the differences between their modes of toxic action. Skyrin exhibited a stronger inhibitory effect than emodin on the growth of L1210 culture cells. Emodin showed a stronger uncoupling effect than skyrin on mitochondrial respiration. Skyrin inhibited Na+, K+-activated ATPase activity of rat brain microsomes but emodin did not inhibit.