Research update on aflatoxins toxicity, metabolism, distribution, and detection: A concise overview.

Serious health risks associated with the consumption of food products contaminated with aflatoxins (AFs) are worldwide recognized and depend predominantly on consumed AF concentration by diet. A low concentration of aflatoxins in cereals and related food commodities is unavoidable, especially in subtropic and tropic regions. Accordingly, risk assessment guidelines established by regulatory bodies in different countries help in the prevention of aflatoxin intoxication and the protection of public health. By assessing the maximal levels of aflatoxins in food products which are a potential risk to human health, it's possible to establish appropriate risk management strategies. Regarding, a few factors are crucial for making a rational risk management decision, such as toxicological profile, adequate information concerning the exposure duration, availability of routine and some novel analytical techniques, socioeconomic factors, food intake patterns, and maximal allowed levels of each aflatoxin in different food products which may be varied between countries.

Antidotal Potency of the Novel, Structurally Different Adsorbents in Rats Acutely Intoxicated with the T-2 Toxin.

In this paper, the potential antidote efficacy of commercially available formulations of various feed additives such as Minazel-Plus®, Mycosorb®, and Mycofix® was considered by recording their incidence on general health, body weight, and food and water intake, as well as through histopathology and semiquantitative analysis of gastric alterations in Wistar rats treated with the T-2 toxin in a single-dose regimen of 1.67 mg/kg p.o. (1 LD50) for 4 weeks. As an organic adsorbent, Mycosorb® successfully antagonized acute lethal incidence of the T-2 toxin (protective index (PI) = 2.25; p < 0.05 vs. T-2 toxin), and had adverse effects on body weight gain as well as food and water intake during the research (p < 0.001). However, the protective efficacy of the other two food additives was significantly lower (p < 0.05). Treatment with Mycosorb® significantly reduced the severity of gastric damage, which was not the case when the other two adsorbents were used. Our results suggest that Mycosorb® is a much better adsorbent for preventing the adverse impact of the T-2 toxin as well as its toxic metabolites compared with Minazel-plus® or Mycofix-plus®, and it almost completely suppresses its acute toxic effects and cytotoxic potential on the gastric epithelial, glandular, and vascular endothelial cells.

Comparative investigation of the efficacy of three different adsorbents against OTA-induced toxicity in broiler chickens.

The aim of our study was to determine the efficacy of three different adsorbents, inorganic (modified zeolite), organic (esterified glucomannans) and mixed (inorganic and organic components, with the addition of enzymes), in protecting broilers from the toxic effects of ochratoxin A in feed. Broilers were fed diets containing 2 mg/kg of ochratoxin A (OTA) and supplemented with adsorbents at the recommended concentration of 2 g/kg for 21 days. The presence of OTA led to a notable reduction in body weight, lower weight gain, increased feed conversion and induced histopathological changes in the liver and kidneys. The presence of inorganic, organic and mixed adsorbents in contaminated feed only partially reduced the negative effects of OTA on the broiler performances. Broilers that were fed with adsorbent-supplemented feed reached higher body weight (17.96%, 19.09% and 13.59%), compared to the group that received only OTA. The presence of adsorbents partially alleviated the reduction in feed consumption (22.68%, 12.91% and 10.59%), and a similar effect was observed with feed conversion. The applied adsorbents have also reduced the intensity of histopathological changes caused by OTA; however, they were not able to prevent their onset. After the withdrawal of the toxin and adsorbents from the feed (21-42 days), all previously observed disturbances in broilers were reduced, but more remarkably in broilers fed with adsorbents.

[In vitro study of vitamins B1, B2 and B6 adsorption on zeolite].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Zeolites are the hydratised alumosilicates of alcali and earthalcali cations, which have a long three-dimensional crystal structure. Preparations on the basis of zeolites are used for adsorption of organic and nonorganic toxic substances and they, also, find more and more use in veterinary and human medicine and pharmacy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibilities of zeolite to adsorb vitamins B1, B2 and B6 in acid and neutral solutions, as well as the characteristics of the process (saturability, reversibility and competitiveness). METHODS: The specific and sensitive HPLC method with fluorescent detector was used for determination of vitamins B1, B2 and B6. Analyte separation and detection were carried out by applying the reverse-phase method on column C18. An in vitro experiment was done by testing the influence of pH value (2 and 7), concentration of vitamin solution (1, 2 and 5 mg/L), the length of contact with zeolite (10-180 min) and cation competitiveness on the exchange capacity, which is achieved by media and zeolite contact, as well as a possible vitamins desorption through changing pH value of the solution at 37 degrees C. Jon competitiveness was examined by adding commercial feed mixture (grower) with a defined content of the examined vitamins in zeolite solutions the pH = 2 and pH = 7. RESULTS: Vitamins B1, B2 and B6 were stable in both pH=2 and pH = 7 solutions at 37 degrees C, in the defined time intervals. In acid solution concentrations of vitamins significantly declined in the first 10 min, with no significant decline in further 30 min for all the three concentrations tests. In neutral solution, after the addition of 1% zeolite, decrease in vitamins concentrations was slightly lower than in acid solution, but also significant in the first 10 min of the contact with zeolite. It was found that zeolite, which adsorbed vitamins in acid solution, transferred in the neutral one released a significant quantity of adsorbed vitamins after 30 min of extraction on 37 degrees C. Vitamins B1, B2 and B6, from a commercial feed mixture in pH = 2 solution, at 37 degrees C, were significantly adsorbed on zeolite after 30 min of the contact (21.87%, 20.15% and 4.53%, respectively), while in neutral solution there was no statistically significant adsorption. Conclusion. Zeolite significantly adsorbs vitamins B1, B2 and B6 in acid and neutral solutions at 37 degrees C, already in the first 10 min of the contact. Adsorption was irreversible, but partly reversible after changing pH from acid to neutral. This is a significant ions competition for adsorption on zeolite in neutral solution, so no statistically significant vitamins B1, B2 and B6 adsorption occurs, while in acid solution competition is less, thus zeolite significantly adsorbs these vitamins, although in less degree than in conditions with no concurrent ions.