Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of filamentous fungi and represent one of the most common groups of food contaminants with low molecular weight. These toxins are considered common and can affect ...the food chain at various stages of production, harvesting, storage and processing. Zearalenone is one of over 400 detected mycotoxins and produced by fungi of the genus
; it mainly has estrogenic effects on various organisms. Contaminated products can lead to huge economic losses and pose risks to animals and humans. In this review, we systemize information on zearalenone and its major metabolites.
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of molds and mainly produced by species of the genera
,
and
. They can be synthesized on the field, during harvest as well as during storage. They are fairly ...stable compounds and difficult to remove. Among several hundreds of mycotoxins, according to the WHO, ochratoxin A, aflatoxins, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, patulin, fumonisins as well as T-2 and HT-2 toxins deserve special attention. Cytotoxicity is one of the most important adverse properties of mycotoxins and is generally assessed via the MTT assay, the neutral red assay, the LDH assay, the CCK-8 assay and the ATP test in different cell lines. The apoptotic cell ratio is mainly assessed via flow cytometry. Aside from the assessment of the toxicity of individual mycotoxins, it is important to determine the cytotoxicity of mycotoxin combinations. Such combinations often exhibit stronger cytotoxicity than individual mycotoxins. The cytotoxicity of different mycotoxins often depends on the cell line used in the experiment and is frequently time- and dose-dependent. A major drawback of assessing mycotoxin cytotoxicity in cell lines is the lack of interaction typical for complex organisms (for example, immune responses).
Breast milk is an optimal food for infants and toddlers. The composition of breast milk adapts to the needs of the developing organism, satisfying nutritional needs at an early stage of growth and ...development. The results of research to date have shown that breast milk is the best food for a child, containing not only nutrients but also biologically active substances that aid in the optimal, proper growth and development of infants. Among the many components of breast milk, an important element is the probiotic microflora, including bacteria of the genus
spp. These organisms exert a multidirectional, health-promoting effect on the body of children who consume breast milk. The number of lactic acid bacteria, including
, colonizing the breast milk environment and their species diversity varies and depends on many factors, both maternal and environmental. Breast milk, as a recommended food for infants, is an important source of probiotic microflora. The aim of this study was to present the current understanding of probiotic bacteria of the genus
present in breast milk.
Plants and medicinal herbs that are available on the market do not always meet quality and safety standards. One particular concern is the risk of contamination with mycotoxins. Aflatoxins and ...ochratoxin A are the most frequently described mycotoxins in herbal products and have repeatedly been reported to occur at concentrations which exceed regulatory levels set by the European Union (EU). Possible solutions include enforcing existing limits, and for the new materials, establishing tighter limits and mandate the growth of medicinal plants in EU member countries under more strict conditions.
Breast milk is an optimal food for infants and toddlers. The composition of breast milk changes over time and adapts to the needs of the developing organism, satisfying nutritional needs at an early ...stage of growth and development. An important component of breast milk is the probiotic microflora. These microorganisms have multidirectional pro‐health effects. The number of lactic acid bacteria, including Lactobacillus, colonizing the breast milk environment and their species diversity varies and depends on many factors, both maternal and environmental. The aim of our study is to assess the presence of Lactobacillus bacteria in breast milk samples and present the current understanding of probiotic bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus in breast milk. Research hypothesis: Bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus are present in the composition of breast milk. Our research are conducted on the group of breastfeeding women on various stages of lactation. We use techniques of bacterial cultivation on microbiological media and identification of microorganisms using the MALDI Biotyper IVD mass spectrometry. Up to date our research indicates the presence of Lactobacillus bacteria in approx. 30% of breast milk samples. Among the bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus, the most common are: L. gasseri and L.paracasei. Only some of the breastfeeding women contain Lactobacillus bacteria in breast milk.
Citrinin (CIT) is secondary metabolite of filamentous molds. This mycotoxin has nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, embryocidal, and fetotoxic properties. It is also produced by several species of the three ...genera
spp.,
spp., and
spp., which are used to make red yeast rice (RYR). The material for this study consisted of 15 dietary supplements containing an extract of fermented red rice, available on the Polish market. Samples were extracted using a MeOH-H
O mixture, cleaned-up with an immunoaffinity CitriTest HPLC column, and quantified by HPLC-FLD. None of the analyzed samples contained CIT above the established limit of detection (LOD). Studies on the presence of toxic metabolites in red yeast rice show the importance of regulating this product and of clear information on the label regarding the standardized amounts of monacolin.
Breast milk is the optimal food for infants and toddlers, providing basic nutrients. It is also a source of many biologically active substances. Among them are hormones responsible for metabolic ...balance. One of the hormones taken in with breast milk by a breastfed baby is leptin. This hormone is involved in the regulation of appetite, informing the brain about the body's energy resources. Having the correct mechanisms related to the action of leptin is a factor reducing the risk of obesity. The natural presence of leptin in the composition of breast milk suggests that it has a specific role in shaping the health of a breastfed child. Obesity as a disease of civilization affects more and more people, including children. The development of this disease is multifaceted and determined by many factors, including genetic and environmental factors such as eating habits and low physical activity. Behind obesity, there are complex mechanisms in which many elements of the human body are involved. Understanding the effects of breastfeeding as a natural source of leptin can help prevent childhood obesity and development of this disease in future life.
is frequently isolated from damp building materials or improperly stored animal forage. Human and animal exposure to the secondary metabolites of this mold is linked to severe health effects. The ...mutually exclusive production of either satratoxins or atranones defines the chemotypes A and S. Based upon the genes (satratoxin cluster, SC1-3,
or atranone cluster, AC1,
) that are supposed to be essential for satratoxin and atranone production,
can furthermore be divided into three genotypes: the S-type possessing all
- but no
-genes, the A-type lacking the
- but harboring all
-genes, and the H-type having only certain
and all
genes. We analyzed the above-mentioned gene clusters and their flanking regions to shed light on the evolutionary relationship. Furthermore, we performed a deep re-sequencing and LC-MS/MS (Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) analysis. We propose a first model for the evolution of the
genotypes. We assume that genotype H represents the most ancient form. A loss of the AC1 and the concomitant acquisition of the SC2 led to the emergence of the genotype S. According to our model, the genotype H also developed towards genotype A, a process that was accompanied by a loss of SC1 and SC3.
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench) is a plant in the family Asteraceae, mainly grown in North America. Echinacea purpurea has been used in conventional medicine. The plant has ...immuno-stimulating and antibacterial properties, but neither mold contamination nor a mycotoxin presence have been evaluated. Our goal is to determine the degree to which molds and mycotoxins contaminate dietary supplements based on purple coneflower distributed on the Polish market. We analyzed 21 samples divided into four groups: sachets (n = 5), dry raw material (n = 3), capsules (n = 9), and tablets (n = 4). The mycological analysis of dietary supplements shows that the average number of molds is 1012 cfu/g, and the most common molds are Aspergillus spp., Phoma spp. and Eurotium spp. The mycotoxins most common in the samples are ZEN (18/21), DON (5/21) and T-2 toxin (3/21).
Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by the fungi Aspergillus and Penicillium. It occurs naturally in many products of plant origin and in animals because of the carry-over from feed to meat or ...milk. Ochratoxin A has nephrotoxic, carcinogenic, hepatotoxic, neurotoxic, and genotoxic properties. Data on ochratoxin concentrations in blood or serum from patients with different kidney disorders are available for several European countries, as well as for Africa and Asia. In this study, we determined OTA concentrations in serum samples from chronic renal failure patients receiving dialysis and from healthy controls, collected in central Poland. Ochratoxin A was analyzed after extraction and purification using immunoaffinity columns by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (limit of quantification: 0.1 ng/mL) in 88 patients and 16 healthy volunteers. The dialysis group consisted of 40 women and 48 men aged between 23 and 85 years. The mean OTA concentrations were 0.75 ng/mL (maximum 2.78 ng/mL) in dialysis patients and 0.70 ng/mL (maximum 1.44 ng/mL) in healthy controls. The mean concentrations in patients treated by dialysis were 0.76 and 0.74 ng/ml for women and men, respectively (maximum 2.53 ng/ml for women and 2.78 ng/ml for men). Statistical analysis using Student's t-test showed no statistically significant differences between the control group (non-dialysis patients) and all dialysis patients.
•Serum ochratoxin A levels were measured in 88 dialysis patients with chronic renal failure.•Ochratoxin A levels in dialysis patients and healthy people were 0.75 and 0.70 ng/ml.•Ochratoxin A levels did not differ between all dialysis patients and controls.•Ochratoxin A levels did not differ between individual age groups and controls.
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