• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.105-114
• /
• 1996

Certain Fungi Including Aspergillus flavus produce low molecular secondary metabolite that is toxic to human and animals, which have been termed mycotoxin. Given the proper humidity and temperature like summer in Korea, are capable of growing of those hazard fungi and elaborating mycotoxin on almost any organic substrate such as traditional foodstuffs and their raw materials including rice, barley, corn, meju, doenjang and gochujang etc. Until now, some people have examined to isolate various fungi such as Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp. and Fusarium sp. from traditional foodstuffs and raw materials, and have screened various mycotoxin producing strains. Some mycotoxin contamination such as aflatoxin, ochratoxin, deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone etc. also have been confirmed from similar above samples. But these data are different each other and inconsistent in experimental conditions and methods. Especially, almost experiments have been finished for one time. So more consistent experimental method and data are necessary to evaluate objectiely the safety of traditional foodstuffs subjected to the mycotoxin. For this purpose, we have to apply a new advanced technology to develop more simple and rapid methods for determination of mycotoxin and also have to concentrate our efforts on activation of research and accumulation of technology nth sustaining investment of financial support and enlargement of research installation. With those harmonious efforts, it should be possible to examine continuously nd systematically the mycotoxin contamination in our traditional foodstuffs and to assure the safety of them. Then we can maintain and develop the better traditional foodstuffs suited to internationalization.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.224-229
• /
• 1993

GABA transminase (4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase), which catalyzes the breakdown of the major inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA, in mammalian brain, was inactivated by preincubation with the mycotoxin patulin. The time course of the reaction was significantly affected by the substrate .alpha.-ketoglutarate, which aforded complete protection against the loss of catalytic activity. The recovery from the inhibition of patulin by the addition of dithiothreitol (DTT) supports that patulin reacts with the sulfhydryl residue in the catalytic domain of the enzyme. The reconstitution of the reduced enzyme and apoenzyme with pyridoxal-5-P(PLP) was inhibited by another mycotoxin, penicilic acid. This mycotoxin may interact with lysyl residue of the enzyme. Therefore, it is postulated that the critical sulfhydryl and lysyl residues in the catalytic domain of the enzyme react with mycotoxin patulin and penicillic acid, respectively.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.85-92
• /
• 2012

To elucidate the mycotoxin production of Penicillium, Aspergillus and Fusarium spp. isolated from round bale silage, TLC analysis of culture filtrates were conducted. Mycotoxin citrin and patulin were detected from culture filtrates of Penicillium paneum. Aflatoxin was detected from culture filtrates of Aspergillus flavus. Gliotoxin are known to produce by A. fumigatus was not detected. Mycotoxins produces by Fusarium spp., Fumonisin, zearalenone and deoxynivalenol was not detected in the culture filtrates of Fusarium proliferatum.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.67-78
• /
• 2016

Rice contaminated with fungal species during storage is not only of poor quality and low economic value, but may also have harmful effects on human and animal health. The predominant fungal species isolated from rice grains during storage belong to the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium. Some of these fungal species produce mycotoxins; they are responsible for adverse health effects in humans and animals, particularly Aspergillus flavus, which produces the extremely carcinogenic aflatoxins. Not surprisingly, there have been numerous attempts to devise safety procedure for the control of such harmful fungi and production of mycotoxins, including aflatoxins. This review provides information about fungal and mycotoxin contamination of stored rice grains, and microbe-based (biological) strategies to control grain fungi and mycotoxins. The latter will include information regarding attempts undertaken for mycotoxin (especially aflatoxin) bio-detoxification and microbial interference with the aflatoxin-biosynthetic pathway in the toxin-producing fungi.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2019

Mycotoxin contamination is a global phenomenon and causes a wide array of negative effects and other complications. This study focused on commonly found mycotoxins in Africa and the possible means of prevention or reduction of their contaminating effects. Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of mold and fungi; they are generally toxic to living organisms. Hundreds of mycotoxins have been identified thus far, with some, such as aflatoxins, ochratoxins, trichothecenes, zearalenone, fumonisins, and patulin, considered agro-economically important. Several factors contribute to the presence of mycotoxins in food, such as climatic conditions, pest infestation, and poor harvest and storage practices. Exposure to mycotoxins, which occurs mostly by ingestion, leads to various diseases, such as mycotoxicoses and mycoses that may eventually result in death. In light of this, this review of relevant literature focuses on mycotoxin contamination, as well as various methods for the prevention and control of their prevalence, to avert its debilitating consequences on human health. Clear evidence of mycotoxin contamination is present in Africa, and it was therefore recommended that adequate prevention and control of these toxic substances in our food system should be encouraged and that appropriate measures must be taken to ensure food safety as well as the enhanced or long-lifespan of the African populace. Governments, research institutions, and non-governmental organizations should tailor the limited resources available to tackle mycotoxin prevalence, as these will offer the best prospects for successful development of a sustainable food system in Africa.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.43-52
• /
• 1973

Twenty culture filtrates among the various isolated strains from foodstuffs were submitted for toxicity screening using HeLa cells and mice. Fourteen strains(70%) were toxic to both HeLa cells and mice, 17 strains(85%) to HeLa cell alone and 14 strains(70%) to mice alone. As a mass screening this method employed is feasible to detect mycotoxin-producing fungi. In most instances, the results obtained by HeLa cells were in good parellelism with those obtained by mice.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.125-131
• /
• 2009

Korea is representative of a country that consumes herbal medicines; most of the herbal medicines circulating in South Korea have been imported from developing countries in Southeast Asia, such as China and Indonesia. Recently, domestic hygiene and safety are issues that have come to the forefront, because herbal medicines currently in circulation could possibly contain contaminants or residues. Furthermore, the appearance or discovery of harmful new species due to environmental and industrial developments is becoming a social problem. Therefore, it may be necessary to consider and investigate these matters on a continual basis. Recently, mycotoxin contaminations in such foods as cereals, nuts, and powdered red pepper have been reported. They have become a problematic issue; the possibility of contamination in herbal medicines has also been considered. Nevertheless, recognition of and research into mycotoxin contamination in herbal medicines has been scarce because herbal medicine is used in only a few nations. In this research, we identified contamination by aflatoxin which is known to be the most potent mutagenic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic mycotoxin in Thujae Semen, a herbal medicine. We also found co-contaminations involving other mycotoxins, including ochratoxin A and zeraleanone.

• Feed Journal
• /
• v.3 no.3 s.19
• /
• pp.130-134
• /
• 2005

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.26 no.4 s.87
• /
• pp.487-495
• /
• 1998

The mycotoxins, $Aflatoxin\;B_1(B)$ and Ochratoxin A(A), were measured from the various mejus manufactured under the artificial or natural conditions by the indirect competitive ELISA; The various fungi isolated from the Korean traditional home (KTH) made meju collected were observed to produce each mycotoxin mentioned above in the toxin producing broth, but only few in the sterilized cereals of soybean under the artificial conditions. Thus, the isolated fungi were not found to produce both A and B toxins in the artificial conditions. Particularly, the any mycotoxin was not determined at the range of 0.01 to 100 ng per gm of the mejus made under the conditions of KTH widely collected in Korea. The mycotoxins produced by the meju-fermenting fungi were seemed or speculated to be degraded in KTH's mejus under the natural conditions. The species of Mucor involved in the initial stage of fermentation were discussed to be important in the fermentations of KTH mejus.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.240-254
• /
• 2017

Cereal grains are the most important food source for humans. As the global population continues to grow exponentially, the need for the enhanced yield and minimal loss of agricultural crops, mainly cereal grains, is increasing. In general, harvested grains are stored for specific time periods to guarantee their continuous supply throughout the year. During storage, economic losses due to reduction in quality and quantity of grains can become very significant. Grain loss is usually the result of its deterioration due to fungal contamination that can occur from preharvest to postharvest stages. The deleterious fungi can be classified based on predominance at different stages of crop growth and harvest that are affected by environmental factors such as water activity ($a_w$) and eco-physiological requirements. These fungi include species such as those belonging to the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium that can produce mycotoxins harmful to animals and humans. The grain type and condition, environment, and biological factors can also influence the occurrence and predominance of mycotoxigenic fungi in stored grains. The main environmental factors influencing grain fungi and mycotoxins are temperature and $a_w$. This review discusses the effects of temperature and $a_w$ on fungal growth and mycotoxin production in stored grains. The focus is on the occurrence and optimum and minimum growth requirements for grain fungi and mycotoxin production. The environmental influence on aflatoxin production and hypothesized mechanisms of its molecular suppression in response to environmental changes are also discussed. In addition, the use of controlled or modified atmosphere as an environmentally safe alternative to harmful agricultural chemicals is discussed and recommended future research issues are highlighted.