Mycotoxins,toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungus including Aspergillus,Penicillium,and Fusarium,pose considerable threats to food safety and human health worldwide.This review analyzes the main categories of ...Mycotoxins,toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungus including Aspergillus,Penicillium,and Fusarium,pose considerable threats to food safety and human health worldwide.This review analyzes the main categories of mycotoxins—namely aflatoxins,ochratoxins,and fusarium toxins(zearalenone and fumonisins)—along with their health implications,sources of contamination,and environmental circumstances conducive to their production.The document highlights the pressing necessity for efficient management techniques and investigates the use of food polymer-based nanotechnology as an innovative solution.Biopolymeric nanoparticles produced from natural food materials exhibit notable antibacterial characteristics,biodegradability,and the ability to enhance mycotoxin detection and management.This review emphasizes the transformative capacity of nanotechnology based innovative strategies in improving mycotoxin control,providing insights into emerging research avenues and practical applications to bolster food safety systems and keyword co-occurrence analysis,limitations and future perspectives.展开更多
Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide,primarily affecting populations in the developing countries.Aflatoxin,a food contaminant produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus a...Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide,primarily affecting populations in the developing countries.Aflatoxin,a food contaminant produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus,is a known human carcinogen that has been shown to be a causative agent in the pathogenesis of HCC.Aflatoxin can affect a wide range of food commodities including corns,oilseeds,spices,and tree nuts as well as milk,meat,and dried fruit.Many factors affect the growth of Aspergillus fungi and the level of aflatoxin contamination in food.Drought stress is one of the factors that increase susceptibility of plants to Aspergillus and thus aflatoxin contamination.A recent drought is thought to be responsible for finding of trace amounts of aflatoxin in some of the corn harvested in the United States.Although it's too soon to know whether aflatoxin will be a significant problem,since United States is the world's largest corn producer and exporter,this has raised alarm bells.Strict regulations and testing of finished foods and feeds in the United States should prevent a major health scare,and prevent human exposure to deleterious levels of aflatoxin.Unfortunately,such regulations and testing are not in place in many countries.The purpose of this editorial is to summarize the current knowledge on association of aflatoxin and HCC,encourage future research and draw attention to this global public health issue.展开更多
Chronic consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated foods is a global problem in both developing and developed countries especially where there is poor regulation of their levels in foods. In the body, aflatoxins (AFBs) mai...Chronic consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated foods is a global problem in both developing and developed countries especially where there is poor regulation of their levels in foods. In the body, aflatoxins (AFBs) mainly AFB1 are biotransformed to various metabolites especially the active AFB1-exo-8,9-epoxide (AFBO). The AFB, AFBO and other metabolites interact with various biomolecules in the body including nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA and the various metabolic pathways such as protein synthesis, glycolytic pathway and electron transport chain involved in ATP production in body cells. The AFB interacts with DNA to form AFB-DNA adducts causing DNA breakages. The AFB and its metabolites induce the up regulation of nuclear receptors such as pregnane X receptor (PXR), constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) through gene expression that regulates the metabolizing enzymes such as CYP450 involved in Phase I and Phase II metabolism of xenobiotics. AFB activates these nuclear receptors to produce the metabolizing enzymes. The AFB1 is metabolized in the body by cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzyme isoforms such as CYP1A2, CYP1A2, CYP3A4/ CYP3A5, and CYP3A7 in fetus, glutathione S-transferase, aflatoxin B1-aldehyde reductase leading to reactive metabolites, some of which can be used as aflatoxin exposure biomarkers. These enzymes are involved in the Phase I and Phase II metabolic reactions of aflatoxins. The CYP1A2 is the principal metabolizer of aflatoxin at low concentrations while the reverse is true for CYP3A4. The accumulation of AFB and its metabolites in the body especially the AFB1-exo-8,9-epoxide depletes the glutathione (GSH) due to the formation of high amounts of epoxides and other reactive oxygen species (ROS). The AFB, AFB1-exo-8,9-epoxide and other metabolites also affect the epigenetic mechanisms including the DNA methylation, histone modifications, maturation of miRNAs as well as the daily formation of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) where AFB exposure may facilitate the process and induces G:C to T:A transversions at the third base in codon 249 of TP53 causing p53 mutations reported in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The changes in epigenetic mechanisms lead to either epigenetic inactivation or epigenetic derepression and all these affect the gene expression, cellular differentiation and growth. AFB also through epigenetic mechanisms promotes tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the formation of the small amounts of AFB1 from AFB2 is suspected to cause the carcinogenicity of AFB2 in humans and animals. Chronic aflatoxins exposure leads to formation of reactive AFBO metabolites in the body that could activate and de-activates the various epigenetic mechanisms leading to development of various cancers.展开更多
Objective To study the contamination of total aflatoxins （AFs） in different kinds of foods including corn, peanut, rice, walnut, and pine nut in six provinces and two municipalities in China. Methods A total of 283 ...Objective To study the contamination of total aflatoxins （AFs） in different kinds of foods including corn, peanut, rice, walnut, and pine nut in six provinces and two municipalities in China. Methods A total of 283 samples of corn, peanut, rice, walnut and pine nut were randomly collected from local markets in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hubei, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces, as well as in Shanghai and Chongqing municipalities. The samples were ground to which acetonitrile/water solution was added. After filtering, the extract was transferred into a MycoSepTM purifying column and was pressed slowly. Then the purified liquid was derivatized with trifluoroacetic acid （TFA） and assayed using high performance liquid chromatography （HPLC）. Results AFs were detected in 70.27% of corn samples, with a mean level of 27.44 μg/kg and the highest level of 1098.36 μg/kg. In peanut, the AFs detection rate was 23.08%, with a mean level of 0.82 μg/kg and the highest level of 28.39 μg/kg. Very few rice samples with AFs were detected. The AFs levels were very low in walnut and pine nut. Conclusion Corn is the food most seriously contaminated with AFs in China. AFBI is the main aflatoxin which is found as a contaminant in foods.展开更多
The widespread contamination by mycotoxins,especially zearalenone and aflatoxins,in crops and their by-products has caused severe undesirable effects on human health and commercial trade.Researchers had screened out m...The widespread contamination by mycotoxins,especially zearalenone and aflatoxins,in crops and their by-products has caused severe undesirable effects on human health and commercial trade.Researchers had screened out microorganisms from various media for degrading zearalenone and aflatoxins,and the results of a lot of studies showed that enzymes derived from microbial strains play a key role in degrading mycotoxins.Genetic engineering technology had been applied to improve the heterologously expressed degrading enzymes in several mature microbial hosts such as Escherichia coli and Pichia pastoris.The separated and purified recombinant enzyme had high activity in degrading mycotoxins in vitro.This review summarized the types of mycotoxins-degrading microorganisms and enzymes,and the progress on synthesis of heterologously expressed degrading enzymes by genetic engineering technology as well as related researches on improving the effect of degrading enzymes.We also prospected the future development in the study of using recombinant enzymes formed by genetic engineering technology to realize the simultaneous degradation of multiple mycotoxins in crops.展开更多
Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi such as Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. They are one of the contaminants most common in food and feed, with high toxicity and carcinogenicity. Aflatoxins u...Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi such as Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. They are one of the contaminants most common in food and feed, with high toxicity and carcinogenicity. Aflatoxins usually enter animal body together with feed and then enter human body by food chain, thereby seriously threatening human health. In recent years, the degradation of aflatoxins has become a hot research topic. This study overviewed the characteristics and detoxification ways of aflatoxins, specifically for the advances in biodegradation and degradation products of aflatoxins.展开更多
Investigations were carried out to determine the influence of spontaneous fermentations as achieved at household level on the nutrients composition and aflatoxins concentration of maize during the processing into dokl...Investigations were carried out to determine the influence of spontaneous fermentations as achieved at household level on the nutrients composition and aflatoxins concentration of maize during the processing into doklu, a fermented maize food product consumed in Cote d’Ivoire with legumes, soup and fried fish. Results showed that maize grains contained aflatoxin B1, G1 and G2 and that during fermentation all physicochemical parameters significantly (P ≤ 0.05) decreased except moisture and total titratable acidity contents which were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased. Fermentation also caused significant reduction in the concentration of total aflatoxins (72%), with the most important reduction in aflatoxin B1 (80%) after the soaking of maize grains. However, no aflatoxin was detected after 24 hours of fermentation until the final product was obtained. Despite the losses in some nutritional compounds, the fermented product, doklu, was found to have appreciable nutritional quality.展开更多
The effectiveness of neem (Azadiracta indica) oil on the growth, morphology, sporulation, viability of spores, aflatoxin B1 and B2 production by A. flavus on Yeast Extract-Sucrose medium was determined. Neem oil inhib...The effectiveness of neem (Azadiracta indica) oil on the growth, morphology, sporulation, viability of spores, aflatoxin B1 and B2 production by A. flavus on Yeast Extract-Sucrose medium was determined. Neem oil inhibited the fungal growth (i.e. mycelia dry weight, diameter of colony and growth rate) on solid media at concentrations from 0.5 to 5.0% v/v, although it significantly increased sporulation in the same conditions. Spores obtained from cultures grown without neem oil reduced germination when incubated in a neem oil supplemented medium. Colonies grown on solid media and in submerged cultures in the presence of neem oil exhibited morphological alterations, including granular cytoplasm, atypical hyphae branching pattern, abnormal and undifferentiated conidiophores. High Performance Liquid Chromatography was used to measure aflatoxins. In submerged cultures, neem oil at concentrations from 0.5 to 4.0% v/v caused approximately 95% inhibition in Aflatoxin B1 and B2. On other hand, these conditions failed to suppress fungal growth. Current research emphasized that neem oil was not fungistatic or fungicidal, but exhibited anti-aflatoxigenic activity.展开更多
Unani medicine is an oldest system of traditional medicine,where drugs of animal,mineral and herbal origin are used for centuries to cure diseases.Unani remedies are now available not only in drug stores,but also in f...Unani medicine is an oldest system of traditional medicine,where drugs of animal,mineral and herbal origin are used for centuries to cure diseases.Unani remedies are now available not only in drug stores,but also in food stores and super markets.Therefore the efficacy and safety of these drugs is very crucial.One of the most serious risks associated with these remedies is,consumer assumes that they are natural,so they are safe.But biological contamination(bacterial,fungal and insect)of herbal medicines is a serious concern.The Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus are the fungal species that occur naturally,release aflatoxins and is a threat to the natural drugs.The World Health Organization has recommended determination of aflatoxins in natural drugs(Unani)as one of the parameter of their safety studies as Aflatoxin contamination is concerned significantly with health and economic loss affecting humans,animals,and agriculture.Aflatoxin B1 is categorized as a group 1 carcinogen by The International Agency for Research on Cancer that causes a variety of health issues.Thus keeping in mind the deleterious health effects of aflatoxins,here,in this review we have made an attempt to summarize the aflatoxins with respect to their origin,occurrence,structure and properties to generate the awareness among the people dealing mainly with Unani herbal drugs.Besides these their toxicity and effects on health have also been discussed.The analytical methods for their determination and some measures to prevent their contamination are also suggested to improve the efficacy and safety of Unani herbal drugs.展开更多
The food contamination is a critical public health concern at the global level. The aflatoxins are considerable food contaminants and health menace to a sizable world population. Aflatoxins originate from fungi as the...The food contamination is a critical public health concern at the global level. The aflatoxins are considerable food contaminants and health menace to a sizable world population. Aflatoxins originate from fungi as their toxic secondary metabolites. This study aimed to probe the contamination level of aflatoxins in smoked-dried fish and the extent of the threat it might pose on human health. The study considered five of the regularly consumed species of smoked-dried fish. The study also considered two species of fresh fish. The investigation was carried out using VICAM Series-4EX Fluorometer. The Buka fish sample had the lowest concentration of 1.3 ppb for total aflatoxins, and Bream fish was analyzed to have the highest as 3.84 ppb. As such, the total aflatoxin concentration in this study was found to be between 1.3 and 3.84 ppb. These concentrations can be considered to be a matter of concern. Prolonged intake of the aflatoxins in this range may result in a health hazard to humans. As expected, there was no trace of aflatoxins detected in fresh fish samples.展开更多
Aflatoxins are the most potent spontaneous carcinogen known as secondary metabolite. Aflatoxins detection in peanut is challenging on account of inherent complexity of high fatty matrices. A modified Quick Easy Cheap ...Aflatoxins are the most potent spontaneous carcinogen known as secondary metabolite. Aflatoxins detection in peanut is challenging on account of inherent complexity of high fatty matrices. A modified Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe (QuECh-ERS) method couple with liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) has been developed to monitor aflatoxins in peanut. It?s a simple and rapid sample preparation for aflatoxins analysis compared with common method. Microporous metal-organic framework MIL-101 (Cr) was used as absorbent in this research. Promising properties of high porosity and surface area endowed MIL-101 (Cr) with efficiently aflatoxin enrichment with other matrix exclusion from high fatty sample. Negligible matrix effect was observed due to efficient extract clean up with MIL-101 sorbent. Recoveries ranged from 73.5% to 98.4% for aflatoxins, with relative standard deviations less than 7%. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) for aflatoxins in peanut were 0.05-0.1 μg/kg and 0.2-0.6 μg/kg respectively.By using method described in this research, 15 real samples were successfully analyzed in which 6 samples were contaminated. MIL-101(Cr) was used to reduce matrix effect and develop a quick and effective method for aflatoxins detection in peanut via LC-MS/MS for the first time.展开更多
Method validation for quantitative analysis of aflatoxins, AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 in sorghum, peanut butter, groundnut and animals feed is presented. Aflatoxins were extracted with a mixture of methanol: acetonitri...Method validation for quantitative analysis of aflatoxins, AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 in sorghum, peanut butter, groundnut and animals feed is presented. Aflatoxins were extracted with a mixture of methanol: acetonitrile: water (60:30:10) and cleaned with Alfa test IAC chromatography before analysis by High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) by adopting an isocratic chromatographic system using a mobile phase consisting acetic acid: acetonitrile: methanol (59:14:27), the separation of the four aflatoxins was achieved in less than 15 minutes. Calibration curves were linear over the concentration range from 2 - 18 ng/mL for AFB1 and AFG1, 0.4 - 3.6 ng/mL for AFB2 and AFG2, respectively. The LOD and LOQ in spiked samples were found to be 0.02 and 0.05 μg/kg for both AFB1 and AFG1, 0.01 and 0.03 μg/kg for both AFB2 and AFG2. The mean recovery values were in range from 84.2% to 96.9% was obtained. Five samples were found to be contaminated with aflatoxins and the total aflatoxins ranged from 0.02 to 3.26 μg/kg were obtained. Nineteen different samples were found to be contaminated with aflatoxins;the total aflatoxins ranged from 0.27 to 10.48 μg/kg were obtained. The highest total aflatoxins value was obtained in animal feeds.展开更多
Mycotoxins are small molecules produced by fungi that contaminate crops and cause notable health effects for humans,owing to their inherent toxicity.Aflatoxins are among the most potent mycotoxins,with aflatoxin B1 an...Mycotoxins are small molecules produced by fungi that contaminate crops and cause notable health effects for humans,owing to their inherent toxicity.Aflatoxins are among the most potent mycotoxins,with aflatoxin B1 and M1 being the most concerning.Due to their negative impact on human health and agro-economics,developing cost-effective,rapid,highly sensitive and specific detection tools is urgently needed.Nucleic acid–based synthetic receptors,aptamers,have been successfully selected for aflatoxin with high binding affinity and selectivity,and have been incorporated into a wide array of sensor platforms.By exploiting the optical properties of metallic nanoparticles,aptasensors have been developed to achieve low-cost,rapid,and sensitive tests to detect contaminated foods.Herein,we describe the use of functional nucleic acids,specifically DNA aptamers with metallic nanoparticles such as gold and silver for detecting aflatoxin B1 and M1.This review highlights various aptamer-nanoparticle assay types designed for colorimetric aflatoxin detection(i.e.,solution and paper-based)along with their associated detection limits,as well as their strengths and areas for further development.展开更多
A research study was undertaken to carry out isolation and identification of specific pathogens, presence of antibiotics, aflatoxins, pesticide residues and industrial contaminants in supply chain of milk in selected ...A research study was undertaken to carry out isolation and identification of specific pathogens, presence of antibiotics, aflatoxins, pesticide residues and industrial contaminants in supply chain of milk in selected coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. The milk is a whole food;it is categorized under perishable foods as it is biologically nutrient liquid that supports the growth of wide variety of microorganisms and is susceptible to spoilage. The quality of milk can be affected by the presence of additional water, detergents, disinfectants, antibiotics, pesticides and pathogens like bacteria, viruses, toxins released by molds such as aflatoxins and heavy metals etc. The raw milk is usually colonized by pathogens like Campylobacter jejuni, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia. coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Yersinia enterocolitica. The milk samples were collected from vendors of East and West Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts. The milk samples were found to be positive for Tetracycline and Beta lactam antibiotics. The Aspergillus flavus was identified and the colonies producing aflatoxin M1 appeared in yellow color on the Aspergillus agar (M1127). The pesticides and heavy metals in raw and chilled milk samples were detected by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The pesticide residues were found in raw and chilled milk samples include Lindane, Endosulfan, Chlorane, Heptachlor and Methoxchlor. The heavy metals like lead, arsenic, zinc and mercury residues were found to occur in raw and chilled milk samples. The hygienic quality of the milk in the current study was found to be poor due to exceeding the standard limits in number of specific pathogens, antibiotic, aflatoxin M1, pesticide and heavy metal residues. Immediate measures are needed to be taken to ensure safety of raw milk in public point of view in Visakhapatnam, East & West Godavari regions.展开更多
Edible oil is one major nutritional ingredient to human and widely consumed directly. The contamination of aflatoxin B1 （AFB1） in edible oils has been attracted exten-sive efforts due to its hazard to human health a...Edible oil is one major nutritional ingredient to human and widely consumed directly. The contamination of aflatoxin B1 （AFB1） in edible oils has been attracted exten-sive efforts due to its hazard to human health and life. To avoid the digestion of edible oils contaminated by AFB1 the development of rapid and sensitive sensing method for AFB1 is required. Herein, a quantitative, sensitive and rapid method for AFB1 detection in edible oils was proposed by using ultrasensitive time-resolved fluorescent immunosensing （TRFIS） method. This method poses unique advantages from both time-resolved fluorescent sens-ing method and immunochromatographic assay format. The nanospheres were modified with fluorescent europium and then captured the home-made monoclonal antibody against AFB1 （3G1）. After optimization, by using a competitive immunosensing manner, this TRFIS method has a detectable linear range of 0.54-20.0 μg/kg with minimum detectable concen-tration of 0.18μg/kg. It can be completed merely within 10 min with recovery from 87.0% to 121.9%. The agreement was observed between the results by TRFIS and high perfor-mance liquid chromatography （HPLC） methods. This research provides a promising sens-ing method for sensitive and rapid determining AFB1 in edible oils.展开更多
The authors regret two clerical errors in Section 2.1 Samples,chemicals,and reagents(page 2,first paragraph,sixth line)and Section 2.5.1 Exposure assessment(page 3,first paragraph,tenth line).Specifically,-The Latin n...The authors regret two clerical errors in Section 2.1 Samples,chemicals,and reagents(page 2,first paragraph,sixth line)and Section 2.5.1 Exposure assessment(page 3,first paragraph,tenth line).Specifically,-The Latin name of“Fructus Hordei Germinatus”in Section 2.1 was incorrectly stated as Citrus reticulata.The correct name should be Hordeum vulgare.展开更多
Recently,enzyme-based transformation of aflatoxins(AFs)has drawn great attention.The microbial laccases are most intensively studied.This study identified a thermostable laccase(designated LacGLY4)from Bacillus vele-z...Recently,enzyme-based transformation of aflatoxins(AFs)has drawn great attention.The microbial laccases are most intensively studied.This study identified a thermostable laccase(designated LacGLY4)from Bacillus vele-zensis GLY4.The recombinant enzyme could be smoothly expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by Ni^(2+)-af-finity chromatography.The LacGLY4 displayed the optimal pH and temperature at pH 8.0 and 85℃,and maintained a relatively high activity at 75-95℃against AFB_(1).At the optimized condition,over 95%of AFB_(1)(10μg/mL)would be transformed by 20μg/mL of LacGLY4 after 30 min.The half-life(t1/2)of LacGLY4 at 40,50 and 60◦C was calculated to be 77,63 and 53 min,respectively.LacGLY4 could extensively transform a variety of AFB_(1)analogues that showed the specific activity of 0.132,0.077,0.071,and 0.107 U/mg for AFB_(2),AFM_(1),AFG_(1)and AFG_(2),respectively.In addition,the LacGLY4 exhibited about 57%relative activity towards ZEN,but only showed less than 10%of activity against DON and PAT compared to that of AFB_(1).A significant transformation product from AFB_(1)by LacGLY4 was identified as C_(24)H_(3)0O_(6)by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrom-etry.The generated product is speculated to be formed by a complex addition reduction rather than a simple hydrolase reaction from AFB_(1).This bacterial laccase combines good thermostability and efficient transformation,providing a novel enzymatic tool for the biocontrol of AFB_(1)contamination such as in the oil refinement degumming step in which the temperature is around 80◦C and the processing time is about 30 min.展开更多
The authors regret two clerical errors in Section 2.1 Samples,chemicals,and reagents(page 2,first paragraph,sixth line)and Section 2.5.1 Exposure assessment(page 3,first paragraph,tenth line).Specifically,The Latin na...The authors regret two clerical errors in Section 2.1 Samples,chemicals,and reagents(page 2,first paragraph,sixth line)and Section 2.5.1 Exposure assessment(page 3,first paragraph,tenth line).Specifically,The Latin name of“Fructus Hordei Germinatus”in Section 2.1 was incorrectly stated as Citrus reticulata.The correct name should be Hordeum vulgare.展开更多
Coffee,a globally consumed beverage renowned for its distinctive taste and potential health benefits,is primarily sourced from two major varieties,Coffea arabica and C.robusta,which collectively dominate the global su...Coffee,a globally consumed beverage renowned for its distinctive taste and potential health benefits,is primarily sourced from two major varieties,Coffea arabica and C.robusta,which collectively dominate the global supply chain.This review delves into the historical origins of coffee cultivation,tracing its roots to India in the 1600s when Baba Budan introduced beans from Yemen,marking the inception of coffee farming in Karnataka’s Chikmagalur district.Despite contributing a modest 3.14%to the global coffee supply,India is the 8th largest coffee cultivar globally in 2023-24,highlighting its significance in the coffee industry.Coffee is rich in various metabolites,terpenes,phenols,and antioxidants,with caffeine being a prominent psychoactive compound in coffee beans.However,coffee cultivation faces multifaceted challenges,including environmental stressors and mold infections leading to producing aflatoxins,which pose severe health risks to humans and animals while consuming coffee.Aflatoxin B1,which has heat stability and resilience during coffee bean processing,presents a significant challenge in ensuring food safety.This review critically examines coffee consumption’s benefits and adverse effects,sheds light on aflatoxin contamination in coffee,and evaluates its implications on well-being.Additionally,it discusses regulatory measures and imposed limits to mitigate aflatoxin exposure,mainly focusing on Indian-grown coffee,where aflatoxin outbreaks have had detrimental consequences.展开更多
The last three decades have seen a rise in the use of herbal remedies and supplements,with more than 80%of the world’s population relying on them for primary care.However,aflatoxin contamination in herbal remedies ma...The last three decades have seen a rise in the use of herbal remedies and supplements,with more than 80%of the world’s population relying on them for primary care.However,aflatoxin contamination in herbal remedies may constitute a risk to human health.In this study,a simple and robust method for the simultaneous detection of aflatoxins in four types of medicinal and edible seeds was developed by using UFLC-MS/MS combined with QuECHERS pretreatment.Meanwhile,the transfer rule of the aflatoxins in medicinal and edible seeds during the decoction process was explored,followed by dietary risk assessment based on Monte Carlo simulation.Results showed that aflatoxin contamination was found in 80.6%of the samples(62/77),with the contamination levels of 0.04-258.72μg/kg.Notably,high levels of aflatoxins were found in Ziziphi Spinosae Semen and Platycladi Semen,while low aflatoxin transfer rates(1.13%-11.86%)were observed during the decoction process.The estimated daily intake(EDI)of AFB1 could reach 15.314 and 0.333 ng/kg bw/day by ingesting aflatoxinsusceptible Ziziphi Spinosae Semen and Platycladi Semen,respectively.The population cancer risks ranged from 3.34×10^(-8) to 2.86×10^(-4) hepatocellular carcinoma cases per 105 persons per year.The probabilistic risk assessment indicated a short-term and long-term health concern of intaking these two medicinal and edible seeds contaminated by aflatoxins.This study revealed the occurrence and transfer pattern of aflatoxins in the medicinal and edible seeds and evaluated the risks of their dietary exposure,providing a basis for their safe use.展开更多
基金Financial support for this study is acknowledged by the University of Sri Jayewardenepura,Sri Lanka under the research grant number RC/URG/SCI/2024/12。
文摘Mycotoxins,toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungus including Aspergillus,Penicillium,and Fusarium,pose considerable threats to food safety and human health worldwide.This review analyzes the main categories of mycotoxins—namely aflatoxins,ochratoxins,and fusarium toxins(zearalenone and fumonisins)—along with their health implications,sources of contamination,and environmental circumstances conducive to their production.The document highlights the pressing necessity for efficient management techniques and investigates the use of food polymer-based nanotechnology as an innovative solution.Biopolymeric nanoparticles produced from natural food materials exhibit notable antibacterial characteristics,biodegradability,and the ability to enhance mycotoxin detection and management.This review emphasizes the transformative capacity of nanotechnology based innovative strategies in improving mycotoxin control,providing insights into emerging research avenues and practical applications to bolster food safety systems and keyword co-occurrence analysis,limitations and future perspectives.
文摘Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide,primarily affecting populations in the developing countries.Aflatoxin,a food contaminant produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus,is a known human carcinogen that has been shown to be a causative agent in the pathogenesis of HCC.Aflatoxin can affect a wide range of food commodities including corns,oilseeds,spices,and tree nuts as well as milk,meat,and dried fruit.Many factors affect the growth of Aspergillus fungi and the level of aflatoxin contamination in food.Drought stress is one of the factors that increase susceptibility of plants to Aspergillus and thus aflatoxin contamination.A recent drought is thought to be responsible for finding of trace amounts of aflatoxin in some of the corn harvested in the United States.Although it's too soon to know whether aflatoxin will be a significant problem,since United States is the world's largest corn producer and exporter,this has raised alarm bells.Strict regulations and testing of finished foods and feeds in the United States should prevent a major health scare,and prevent human exposure to deleterious levels of aflatoxin.Unfortunately,such regulations and testing are not in place in many countries.The purpose of this editorial is to summarize the current knowledge on association of aflatoxin and HCC,encourage future research and draw attention to this global public health issue.
文摘Chronic consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated foods is a global problem in both developing and developed countries especially where there is poor regulation of their levels in foods. In the body, aflatoxins (AFBs) mainly AFB1 are biotransformed to various metabolites especially the active AFB1-exo-8,9-epoxide (AFBO). The AFB, AFBO and other metabolites interact with various biomolecules in the body including nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA and the various metabolic pathways such as protein synthesis, glycolytic pathway and electron transport chain involved in ATP production in body cells. The AFB interacts with DNA to form AFB-DNA adducts causing DNA breakages. The AFB and its metabolites induce the up regulation of nuclear receptors such as pregnane X receptor (PXR), constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) through gene expression that regulates the metabolizing enzymes such as CYP450 involved in Phase I and Phase II metabolism of xenobiotics. AFB activates these nuclear receptors to produce the metabolizing enzymes. The AFB1 is metabolized in the body by cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzyme isoforms such as CYP1A2, CYP1A2, CYP3A4/ CYP3A5, and CYP3A7 in fetus, glutathione S-transferase, aflatoxin B1-aldehyde reductase leading to reactive metabolites, some of which can be used as aflatoxin exposure biomarkers. These enzymes are involved in the Phase I and Phase II metabolic reactions of aflatoxins. The CYP1A2 is the principal metabolizer of aflatoxin at low concentrations while the reverse is true for CYP3A4. The accumulation of AFB and its metabolites in the body especially the AFB1-exo-8,9-epoxide depletes the glutathione (GSH) due to the formation of high amounts of epoxides and other reactive oxygen species (ROS). The AFB, AFB1-exo-8,9-epoxide and other metabolites also affect the epigenetic mechanisms including the DNA methylation, histone modifications, maturation of miRNAs as well as the daily formation of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) where AFB exposure may facilitate the process and induces G:C to T:A transversions at the third base in codon 249 of TP53 causing p53 mutations reported in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The changes in epigenetic mechanisms lead to either epigenetic inactivation or epigenetic derepression and all these affect the gene expression, cellular differentiation and growth. AFB also through epigenetic mechanisms promotes tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the formation of the small amounts of AFB1 from AFB2 is suspected to cause the carcinogenicity of AFB2 in humans and animals. Chronic aflatoxins exposure leads to formation of reactive AFBO metabolites in the body that could activate and de-activates the various epigenetic mechanisms leading to development of various cancers.
文摘Objective To study the contamination of total aflatoxins （AFs） in different kinds of foods including corn, peanut, rice, walnut, and pine nut in six provinces and two municipalities in China. Methods A total of 283 samples of corn, peanut, rice, walnut and pine nut were randomly collected from local markets in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hubei, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces, as well as in Shanghai and Chongqing municipalities. The samples were ground to which acetonitrile/water solution was added. After filtering, the extract was transferred into a MycoSepTM purifying column and was pressed slowly. Then the purified liquid was derivatized with trifluoroacetic acid （TFA） and assayed using high performance liquid chromatography （HPLC）. Results AFs were detected in 70.27% of corn samples, with a mean level of 27.44 μg/kg and the highest level of 1098.36 μg/kg. In peanut, the AFs detection rate was 23.08%, with a mean level of 0.82 μg/kg and the highest level of 28.39 μg/kg. Very few rice samples with AFs were detected. The AFs levels were very low in walnut and pine nut. Conclusion Corn is the food most seriously contaminated with AFs in China. AFBI is the main aflatoxin which is found as a contaminant in foods.
基金supported by Program for Innovative Research Team(in Science&Technology)in University of Henan Province(No.20IRTSTHN023)supported by Key research and development and promotion special project of Science and Technology Department of Henan Province,China(No.192102310254)。
文摘The widespread contamination by mycotoxins,especially zearalenone and aflatoxins,in crops and their by-products has caused severe undesirable effects on human health and commercial trade.Researchers had screened out microorganisms from various media for degrading zearalenone and aflatoxins,and the results of a lot of studies showed that enzymes derived from microbial strains play a key role in degrading mycotoxins.Genetic engineering technology had been applied to improve the heterologously expressed degrading enzymes in several mature microbial hosts such as Escherichia coli and Pichia pastoris.The separated and purified recombinant enzyme had high activity in degrading mycotoxins in vitro.This review summarized the types of mycotoxins-degrading microorganisms and enzymes,and the progress on synthesis of heterologously expressed degrading enzymes by genetic engineering technology as well as related researches on improving the effect of degrading enzymes.We also prospected the future development in the study of using recombinant enzymes formed by genetic engineering technology to realize the simultaneous degradation of multiple mycotoxins in crops.
基金Supported by Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest(201303080)Chenguang Planning Project for Fostering Scientific and Technological Talents in Wuhan City(2015070404010189)Project of Hubei Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Center(2016-620-000-001-033)
文摘Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi such as Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. They are one of the contaminants most common in food and feed, with high toxicity and carcinogenicity. Aflatoxins usually enter animal body together with feed and then enter human body by food chain, thereby seriously threatening human health. In recent years, the degradation of aflatoxins has become a hot research topic. This study overviewed the characteristics and detoxification ways of aflatoxins, specifically for the advances in biodegradation and degradation products of aflatoxins.
基金provided by the International Foundation for Science,Sweden(E/4955-1).
文摘Investigations were carried out to determine the influence of spontaneous fermentations as achieved at household level on the nutrients composition and aflatoxins concentration of maize during the processing into doklu, a fermented maize food product consumed in Cote d’Ivoire with legumes, soup and fried fish. Results showed that maize grains contained aflatoxin B1, G1 and G2 and that during fermentation all physicochemical parameters significantly (P ≤ 0.05) decreased except moisture and total titratable acidity contents which were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased. Fermentation also caused significant reduction in the concentration of total aflatoxins (72%), with the most important reduction in aflatoxin B1 (80%) after the soaking of maize grains. However, no aflatoxin was detected after 24 hours of fermentation until the final product was obtained. Despite the losses in some nutritional compounds, the fermented product, doklu, was found to have appreciable nutritional quality.
文摘The effectiveness of neem (Azadiracta indica) oil on the growth, morphology, sporulation, viability of spores, aflatoxin B1 and B2 production by A. flavus on Yeast Extract-Sucrose medium was determined. Neem oil inhibited the fungal growth (i.e. mycelia dry weight, diameter of colony and growth rate) on solid media at concentrations from 0.5 to 5.0% v/v, although it significantly increased sporulation in the same conditions. Spores obtained from cultures grown without neem oil reduced germination when incubated in a neem oil supplemented medium. Colonies grown on solid media and in submerged cultures in the presence of neem oil exhibited morphological alterations, including granular cytoplasm, atypical hyphae branching pattern, abnormal and undifferentiated conidiophores. High Performance Liquid Chromatography was used to measure aflatoxins. In submerged cultures, neem oil at concentrations from 0.5 to 4.0% v/v caused approximately 95% inhibition in Aflatoxin B1 and B2. On other hand, these conditions failed to suppress fungal growth. Current research emphasized that neem oil was not fungistatic or fungicidal, but exhibited anti-aflatoxigenic activity.
文摘Unani medicine is an oldest system of traditional medicine,where drugs of animal,mineral and herbal origin are used for centuries to cure diseases.Unani remedies are now available not only in drug stores,but also in food stores and super markets.Therefore the efficacy and safety of these drugs is very crucial.One of the most serious risks associated with these remedies is,consumer assumes that they are natural,so they are safe.But biological contamination(bacterial,fungal and insect)of herbal medicines is a serious concern.The Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus are the fungal species that occur naturally,release aflatoxins and is a threat to the natural drugs.The World Health Organization has recommended determination of aflatoxins in natural drugs(Unani)as one of the parameter of their safety studies as Aflatoxin contamination is concerned significantly with health and economic loss affecting humans,animals,and agriculture.Aflatoxin B1 is categorized as a group 1 carcinogen by The International Agency for Research on Cancer that causes a variety of health issues.Thus keeping in mind the deleterious health effects of aflatoxins,here,in this review we have made an attempt to summarize the aflatoxins with respect to their origin,occurrence,structure and properties to generate the awareness among the people dealing mainly with Unani herbal drugs.Besides these their toxicity and effects on health have also been discussed.The analytical methods for their determination and some measures to prevent their contamination are also suggested to improve the efficacy and safety of Unani herbal drugs.
文摘The food contamination is a critical public health concern at the global level. The aflatoxins are considerable food contaminants and health menace to a sizable world population. Aflatoxins originate from fungi as their toxic secondary metabolites. This study aimed to probe the contamination level of aflatoxins in smoked-dried fish and the extent of the threat it might pose on human health. The study considered five of the regularly consumed species of smoked-dried fish. The study also considered two species of fresh fish. The investigation was carried out using VICAM Series-4EX Fluorometer. The Buka fish sample had the lowest concentration of 1.3 ppb for total aflatoxins, and Bream fish was analyzed to have the highest as 3.84 ppb. As such, the total aflatoxin concentration in this study was found to be between 1.3 and 3.84 ppb. These concentrations can be considered to be a matter of concern. Prolonged intake of the aflatoxins in this range may result in a health hazard to humans. As expected, there was no trace of aflatoxins detected in fresh fish samples.
文摘Aflatoxins are the most potent spontaneous carcinogen known as secondary metabolite. Aflatoxins detection in peanut is challenging on account of inherent complexity of high fatty matrices. A modified Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe (QuECh-ERS) method couple with liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) has been developed to monitor aflatoxins in peanut. It?s a simple and rapid sample preparation for aflatoxins analysis compared with common method. Microporous metal-organic framework MIL-101 (Cr) was used as absorbent in this research. Promising properties of high porosity and surface area endowed MIL-101 (Cr) with efficiently aflatoxin enrichment with other matrix exclusion from high fatty sample. Negligible matrix effect was observed due to efficient extract clean up with MIL-101 sorbent. Recoveries ranged from 73.5% to 98.4% for aflatoxins, with relative standard deviations less than 7%. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) for aflatoxins in peanut were 0.05-0.1 μg/kg and 0.2-0.6 μg/kg respectively.By using method described in this research, 15 real samples were successfully analyzed in which 6 samples were contaminated. MIL-101(Cr) was used to reduce matrix effect and develop a quick and effective method for aflatoxins detection in peanut via LC-MS/MS for the first time.
文摘Method validation for quantitative analysis of aflatoxins, AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 in sorghum, peanut butter, groundnut and animals feed is presented. Aflatoxins were extracted with a mixture of methanol: acetonitrile: water (60:30:10) and cleaned with Alfa test IAC chromatography before analysis by High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) by adopting an isocratic chromatographic system using a mobile phase consisting acetic acid: acetonitrile: methanol (59:14:27), the separation of the four aflatoxins was achieved in less than 15 minutes. Calibration curves were linear over the concentration range from 2 - 18 ng/mL for AFB1 and AFG1, 0.4 - 3.6 ng/mL for AFB2 and AFG2, respectively. The LOD and LOQ in spiked samples were found to be 0.02 and 0.05 μg/kg for both AFB1 and AFG1, 0.01 and 0.03 μg/kg for both AFB2 and AFG2. The mean recovery values were in range from 84.2% to 96.9% was obtained. Five samples were found to be contaminated with aflatoxins and the total aflatoxins ranged from 0.02 to 3.26 μg/kg were obtained. Nineteen different samples were found to be contaminated with aflatoxins;the total aflatoxins ranged from 0.27 to 10.48 μg/kg were obtained. The highest total aflatoxins value was obtained in animal feeds.
文摘Mycotoxins are small molecules produced by fungi that contaminate crops and cause notable health effects for humans,owing to their inherent toxicity.Aflatoxins are among the most potent mycotoxins,with aflatoxin B1 and M1 being the most concerning.Due to their negative impact on human health and agro-economics,developing cost-effective,rapid,highly sensitive and specific detection tools is urgently needed.Nucleic acid–based synthetic receptors,aptamers,have been successfully selected for aflatoxin with high binding affinity and selectivity,and have been incorporated into a wide array of sensor platforms.By exploiting the optical properties of metallic nanoparticles,aptasensors have been developed to achieve low-cost,rapid,and sensitive tests to detect contaminated foods.Herein,we describe the use of functional nucleic acids,specifically DNA aptamers with metallic nanoparticles such as gold and silver for detecting aflatoxin B1 and M1.This review highlights various aptamer-nanoparticle assay types designed for colorimetric aflatoxin detection(i.e.,solution and paper-based)along with their associated detection limits,as well as their strengths and areas for further development.
文摘A research study was undertaken to carry out isolation and identification of specific pathogens, presence of antibiotics, aflatoxins, pesticide residues and industrial contaminants in supply chain of milk in selected coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. The milk is a whole food;it is categorized under perishable foods as it is biologically nutrient liquid that supports the growth of wide variety of microorganisms and is susceptible to spoilage. The quality of milk can be affected by the presence of additional water, detergents, disinfectants, antibiotics, pesticides and pathogens like bacteria, viruses, toxins released by molds such as aflatoxins and heavy metals etc. The raw milk is usually colonized by pathogens like Campylobacter jejuni, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia. coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Yersinia enterocolitica. The milk samples were collected from vendors of East and West Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts. The milk samples were found to be positive for Tetracycline and Beta lactam antibiotics. The Aspergillus flavus was identified and the colonies producing aflatoxin M1 appeared in yellow color on the Aspergillus agar (M1127). The pesticides and heavy metals in raw and chilled milk samples were detected by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The pesticide residues were found in raw and chilled milk samples include Lindane, Endosulfan, Chlorane, Heptachlor and Methoxchlor. The heavy metals like lead, arsenic, zinc and mercury residues were found to occur in raw and chilled milk samples. The hygienic quality of the milk in the current study was found to be poor due to exceeding the standard limits in number of specific pathogens, antibiotic, aflatoxin M1, pesticide and heavy metal residues. Immediate measures are needed to be taken to ensure safety of raw milk in public point of view in Visakhapatnam, East & West Godavari regions.
基金This work was supported by Special Fund for Grain -scientific Research in the Public Interest （201513006-02）, Special Fund for Agro -scientific Research in the Public Interest （201203094）, Natural Science Foundation of China （31401601）.
文摘Edible oil is one major nutritional ingredient to human and widely consumed directly. The contamination of aflatoxin B1 （AFB1） in edible oils has been attracted exten-sive efforts due to its hazard to human health and life. To avoid the digestion of edible oils contaminated by AFB1 the development of rapid and sensitive sensing method for AFB1 is required. Herein, a quantitative, sensitive and rapid method for AFB1 detection in edible oils was proposed by using ultrasensitive time-resolved fluorescent immunosensing （TRFIS） method. This method poses unique advantages from both time-resolved fluorescent sens-ing method and immunochromatographic assay format. The nanospheres were modified with fluorescent europium and then captured the home-made monoclonal antibody against AFB1 （3G1）. After optimization, by using a competitive immunosensing manner, this TRFIS method has a detectable linear range of 0.54-20.0 μg/kg with minimum detectable concen-tration of 0.18μg/kg. It can be completed merely within 10 min with recovery from 87.0% to 121.9%. The agreement was observed between the results by TRFIS and high perfor-mance liquid chromatography （HPLC） methods. This research provides a promising sens-ing method for sensitive and rapid determining AFB1 in edible oils.
文摘The authors regret two clerical errors in Section 2.1 Samples,chemicals,and reagents(page 2,first paragraph,sixth line)and Section 2.5.1 Exposure assessment(page 3,first paragraph,tenth line).Specifically,-The Latin name of“Fructus Hordei Germinatus”in Section 2.1 was incorrectly stated as Citrus reticulata.The correct name should be Hordeum vulgare.
基金supported by the Key Joint Funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U24A20473)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22408125).
文摘Recently,enzyme-based transformation of aflatoxins(AFs)has drawn great attention.The microbial laccases are most intensively studied.This study identified a thermostable laccase(designated LacGLY4)from Bacillus vele-zensis GLY4.The recombinant enzyme could be smoothly expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by Ni^(2+)-af-finity chromatography.The LacGLY4 displayed the optimal pH and temperature at pH 8.0 and 85℃,and maintained a relatively high activity at 75-95℃against AFB_(1).At the optimized condition,over 95%of AFB_(1)(10μg/mL)would be transformed by 20μg/mL of LacGLY4 after 30 min.The half-life(t1/2)of LacGLY4 at 40,50 and 60◦C was calculated to be 77,63 and 53 min,respectively.LacGLY4 could extensively transform a variety of AFB_(1)analogues that showed the specific activity of 0.132,0.077,0.071,and 0.107 U/mg for AFB_(2),AFM_(1),AFG_(1)and AFG_(2),respectively.In addition,the LacGLY4 exhibited about 57%relative activity towards ZEN,but only showed less than 10%of activity against DON and PAT compared to that of AFB_(1).A significant transformation product from AFB_(1)by LacGLY4 was identified as C_(24)H_(3)0O_(6)by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrom-etry.The generated product is speculated to be formed by a complex addition reduction rather than a simple hydrolase reaction from AFB_(1).This bacterial laccase combines good thermostability and efficient transformation,providing a novel enzymatic tool for the biocontrol of AFB_(1)contamination such as in the oil refinement degumming step in which the temperature is around 80◦C and the processing time is about 30 min.
文摘The authors regret two clerical errors in Section 2.1 Samples,chemicals,and reagents(page 2,first paragraph,sixth line)and Section 2.5.1 Exposure assessment(page 3,first paragraph,tenth line).Specifically,The Latin name of“Fructus Hordei Germinatus”in Section 2.1 was incorrectly stated as Citrus reticulata.The correct name should be Hordeum vulgare.
文摘Coffee,a globally consumed beverage renowned for its distinctive taste and potential health benefits,is primarily sourced from two major varieties,Coffea arabica and C.robusta,which collectively dominate the global supply chain.This review delves into the historical origins of coffee cultivation,tracing its roots to India in the 1600s when Baba Budan introduced beans from Yemen,marking the inception of coffee farming in Karnataka’s Chikmagalur district.Despite contributing a modest 3.14%to the global coffee supply,India is the 8th largest coffee cultivar globally in 2023-24,highlighting its significance in the coffee industry.Coffee is rich in various metabolites,terpenes,phenols,and antioxidants,with caffeine being a prominent psychoactive compound in coffee beans.However,coffee cultivation faces multifaceted challenges,including environmental stressors and mold infections leading to producing aflatoxins,which pose severe health risks to humans and animals while consuming coffee.Aflatoxin B1,which has heat stability and resilience during coffee bean processing,presents a significant challenge in ensuring food safety.This review critically examines coffee consumption’s benefits and adverse effects,sheds light on aflatoxin contamination in coffee,and evaluates its implications on well-being.Additionally,it discusses regulatory measures and imposed limits to mitigate aflatoxin exposure,mainly focusing on Indian-grown coffee,where aflatoxin outbreaks have had detrimental consequences.
基金supported by the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(2021-I2M-1-071)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82204618).
文摘The last three decades have seen a rise in the use of herbal remedies and supplements,with more than 80%of the world’s population relying on them for primary care.However,aflatoxin contamination in herbal remedies may constitute a risk to human health.In this study,a simple and robust method for the simultaneous detection of aflatoxins in four types of medicinal and edible seeds was developed by using UFLC-MS/MS combined with QuECHERS pretreatment.Meanwhile,the transfer rule of the aflatoxins in medicinal and edible seeds during the decoction process was explored,followed by dietary risk assessment based on Monte Carlo simulation.Results showed that aflatoxin contamination was found in 80.6%of the samples(62/77),with the contamination levels of 0.04-258.72μg/kg.Notably,high levels of aflatoxins were found in Ziziphi Spinosae Semen and Platycladi Semen,while low aflatoxin transfer rates(1.13%-11.86%)were observed during the decoction process.The estimated daily intake(EDI)of AFB1 could reach 15.314 and 0.333 ng/kg bw/day by ingesting aflatoxinsusceptible Ziziphi Spinosae Semen and Platycladi Semen,respectively.The population cancer risks ranged from 3.34×10^(-8) to 2.86×10^(-4) hepatocellular carcinoma cases per 105 persons per year.The probabilistic risk assessment indicated a short-term and long-term health concern of intaking these two medicinal and edible seeds contaminated by aflatoxins.This study revealed the occurrence and transfer pattern of aflatoxins in the medicinal and edible seeds and evaluated the risks of their dietary exposure,providing a basis for their safe use.
