You may have to Search all our reviewed books and magazines, click the sign up button below to create a free account.
Mycotoxins are the metabolites of fungus and are reported to contaminate nearly 25% of the food produced worldwide. The mycotoxins of most significance are the aflatoxins due to their severe health implications and their prevalence in food commodities on a larger scale. Aflatoxins are produced by certain species of fungi the most prominent among which are Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus and A. nominous. Food commodities of African and South Asian countries are especially reported to have aflatoxins well beyond the allowable limits but due to the global trade of food commodities developed countries are also prone towards the perils of aflatoxins. Moreover, climate changes may have a substa...
This book is broadly divided into five sections and 17 chapters, highlighting recent advances in aflatoxin research from epidemiology to molecular genomics and control measures, biocontrol approaches, modern analytical techniques, economic concerns and underlying mechanisms of contamination processes. This book will update readers on several cutting-edge aspects of aflatoxins research with useful up-to-date information for mycologists, toxicologists, microbiologists, agriculture scientists, plant pathologists and pharmacologists, who may be interest to understanding of the impact, significance and recent advances within the field of of aflatoxins with a focus on control strategy.
Abstract: The toxic products from moulds, mycotoxins, are a serious and environmental hazard. They cannot be entirely eliminated. Study of fungal toxins began with the discovery of Aspergillus flavus (parasiticies). Naturally occuring aflatoxins are found in groundnuts, cereals, cotton-seed, and meat and dairy products. The toxins may be synthetically produced. The chemistry and biological assay of toxins are discussed. The toxins produce tumors and biochemically affect nucleic acid and protein synthesis. Control of aflatoxins is possible through mould prevention by control of crop contamination, harvest precautions, and screening. Foods may be detoxified by: 1) removing toxin by extraction; 2) destruction of toxin in situ through heat, radiation, biological degradation, or chemical inactivition. The simplest, most cost-effective method of preventing aflatoxins is by preventative use of good, agricultural methods.
This book is divided into three sections. The section called Aflatoxin Contamination discusses the importance that this subject has for a country like the case of China and mentions examples that illustrate the ubiquity of aflatoxins in various commodities The section Measurement and Analysis, describes the concept of measurement and analysis of aflatoxins from a historical prespective, the legal, and the state of the art in methodologies and techniques. Finally the section entitled Approaches for Prevention and Control of Aflatoxins on Crops and on Different Foods, describes actions to prevent and mitigate the genotoxic effect of one of the most conspicuous aflatoxins, AFB1. In turn, it points out interventions to reduce identified aflatoxin-induced illness at agricultural, dietary and strategies that can control aflatoxin. Besides the preventive management, several approaches have been employed, including physical, chemical biological treatments and solvent extraction to detoxify AF in contaminated feeds and feedstuffs.
Aflatoxins are a group of polyketide mycotoxins that are produced mainly by members of the genus Aspergillus. Production of these toxic secondary metabolites is closely related to fungal development (Keller et al., 2005; Jamali et al., 2012). Contamination of food, feed and agricultural commodities by aflatoxins poses enormous economic and serious health concerns because these chemicals are highly carcinogenic and can directly influence the structure of DNA. The resulting genetic defects can lead to fetal misdevelopment and miscarriages; aflatoxins are also known to suppress immune systems (Razzaghi-Abyaneh et al., 2013). In a global context, aflatoxin contamination is a constant concern bet...
Aflatoxin: Scientific Background, Control, and Implications discusses general problems posed by mycotoxin contamination in foods and feeds. This book is divided into 15 chapters that summarize the discovery, elaboration, chemistry and assay, effects and metabolic fate, processing to ensure their removal or inactivation, and regulatory aspects of aflatoxins. The introductory chapters cover the discovery, formation by Aspergillus flavus, and the chemistry and structure of aflatoxins. The subsequent chapters describe the physicochemical and biological assays for aflatoxin measurement, detection, and analysis. A chapter also describes the metabolic fate and the biochemical alterations associated...
Aflatoxins are a group of highly toxic and carcinogenic substances that occur naturally and can be found in food substances. Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites of certain strains of fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus as well as the less common Aspergillus nomius. Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 are the most important members, which can be categorized into two groups according to chemical structure. As a result of the adverse health effects of mycotoxins, their levels have been strictly regulated, especially in food and feed samples. Therefore, their accurate identification and determination remain a herculean task due to their presence in the complex food matrix. The great public concern and the strict legislation incited the development of sensitive analytical methods that are discussed in this book.
Aflatoxins, natural fungal toxins found in foods and animal feeds, have great public health significance. This book presents the basic and applied toxicology of aflatoxins, including analytical identification, agricultural and veterinary implications, toxicology and carcinogenesis in humans, and economic and regulatory problems associated with aflatoxin contamination and control. - Molecular mechanisms of aflatoxin toxicity - Analytical issues in sampling and analysis - Regulatory and economic issues associated with aflatoxin contamination of food and feed - Presentation of human and animal toxicology, veterinary, and agricultural issues related to aflatoxin contamination
Aflatoxins are a group of highly toxic and carcinogenic substances, which occur naturally, and can be found in food substances. Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites of certain strains of the fungi Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus and the less common A. nomius. Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 are the most important members, which can be categorized into two groups according to the chemical structure. As a result of the adverse health effects of mycotoxins, their levels have been strictly regulated especially in food and feed samples. Therefore, their accurate identification and determination remain a Herculean task due to their presence in complex food matrices. The great public concern and the strict legislation incited the development of reliable, specific, selective, and sensitive analytical methods for pesticide monitoring that are discussed in this book.
"Aflatoxin contamination represents a serious threat to a healthy food supply. Resulting from mold on corn, peanuts, and other grains and grain products, aflatoxins are extremly toxic. Understanding the nature of fungi infection and the factors that favor aflatoxin formation is important to grain producers, dealers, and other professionals who control grain from the field to the site of consumption to prevent serious loss of large quantities of grain or grain products. Producers of poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs, and even pet food need to be aware of the threat of aflatoxin. Participants in the grain industry who grow, store, or process corn and other grains subject to potential infection by aflatoxin should be aware of the risks of fungal infection and aflatoxin contamination, and proper management strategies. The authors focus on the binding of aflatoxin in animal feeds by employing calcium smectite. Readers will be especially glad to know that aflatoxin can often be controlled with a natural mineral material to bind aflatoxin in animal feeds at a modest cost."