Prevention and Detoxification of Mycotoxins in Human Food and Animal Feed using Bio-resources from South Mediterranean Countries: a Critical Review.

Mycotoxins, which are natural toxic compounds produced by filamentous fungi, are considered major contaminants in the food and feed chain due to their stability during processing. Their impacts in food and feedstuff pollution were accentuated due the climate change in the region. They are characterized by their toxicological effects on human and animal health but also by their harmful economic impact. Mediterranean countries: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia are characterized by high temperatures and high relative humidity, particularly in littoral regions that provide favorable conditions for fungal growth and toxinogenesis. Many scientific papers have been published recently in these countries showing mycotoxin occurrence in different commodities and an attempt at bio-detoxification using many bio-products. In order to minimize the bioavailability and/or to detoxify mycotoxins into less toxic metabolites (bio-transforming agents), safe and biological methods have been developed including the use of lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, plant extracts and clays minerals from Mediterranean regions. The aim of this review is to present the pollution of mycotoxins in food and feedstuff of humans and animals and to discuss the development of effective biological control for mycotoxin removal/detoxification and prevention using bio-products. This review will also elucidate the new used natural products to be considered as a new candidates for mycotoxins detoxification/prevention on animal feedstuffs.

Efficacy of lactic acid bacteria supplementation against Fusarium graminearum growth in vitro and inhibition of Zearalenone causing inflammation and oxidative stress in vivo.

Fusarium graminearum invasion and Zearalenone (ZEN)-mycotoxin contamination are considered the most global threat to food and feed. This study investigates the effect Lactobacillus plantarum MON03 viable cells (LPVC) and LP free cells supernatant (LPFCS) against Fusarium graminearum growth and ZEN production in vitro and evaluates if treatment with LP viable cells can counteract the negative effect of ZEN on inflammation and oxidative stress in mesenteric lymph nodes and serum biochemical parameters in mice. For the in vitro study, 7 days of LPVC, LPFCS and F. graminearum co-incubation at different concentrations was done in order to determine the antifungal activity and ZEN- production inhibition. Regarding the in vivo study, Balb/c mice were treated as following: Control, ZEN group, LP group and ZEN + LP group for 30 days. In vitro, LPVC showed an excellent antifungal activity after 7 days of co-incubation (103 CFU/ml). LPVC was succeeded also to inhibit ZEN production by the fungi. In vivo, ZEN has shown an important oxidative damage. As a result of the exposure to ZEN, an increase cytokines, as effectors of an inflammatory response, were observed in the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) of intoxicated mice. In parallel, a serum biochemical change was also observed. LPVC induced a reduction of ZEN-induced oxidative stress and counteracts also the biochemical parameters damage and the inflammatory markers increased by ZEN. LPVC can be valorized as an anti-cating agent in the vitro and in the gastro-intestinal tract to decrease ZEN-toxic effects.

Tunisian radish (Raphanus sativus) extract prevents cadmium-induced immunotoxic and biochemical alterations in rats.

Cadmium (Cd), a known carcinogen and potent immunotoxicant in humans and animals, is dispersed throughout the environment as a result of pollution from a variety of sources. Tunisian radish (Raphanus sativus) extract (TRE) is a known anti-oxidant and free radical scavenger that has been shown to help alleviate immune system disorders, including some induced by environmental toxicants. The present study was undertaken to investigate potential protective effects of TRE against Cd-induced immunotoxicities (and general toxicities) in situ. Cadmium chloride (at 2.5 mg CdCl2/kg BW) and TRE (5, 10, or 15 mg/kg BW) were given (alone or in combination [actually, in sequence of Cd and then TRE]) to rats daily by oral gavage for 2 weeks. Results indicated that treatment with CdCl2 alone resulted in significant decreases in plasma levels of total protein, triglycerides, creatine kinase, creatinine, IgG and IgA, T-lymphocyte sub-types (CD4(+), CD3(+), CD56(+), and CD8(+)), and in thymic and hepatic indices (relative weights). In contrast, CdCl2 treatment caused significant increases in serum LDH, AST, and ALT, in the formation/release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 and TNFα), and in the relative weights of host spleen and kidneys. Rats treated with TRE alone had no discernable changes compared to the controls with regard to all test parameters. Combined treatment of CdCl2 and TRE-at any dose-resulted in a significant improvement of all test parameters compared to those seen with Cd alone. These results illustrated (and provided further support for a continuing belief in) the beneficial effects of TRE in reducing the harmful outcomes of commonly encountered toxicants (like Cd) on the immune system and on overall host health status.

Raphanus sativus extract protects against Zearalenone induced reproductive toxicity, oxidative stress and mutagenic alterations in male Balb/c mice.

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin produced by several species of Fusarium in cereals and agricultural products. It has been implicated in several mycotoxicosis in farm animals and in humans. There is unequivocal evidence of reproductive toxicity of ZEN in male mice although the mechanism of action is unknown. Several reports suggest that exposure to ZEN resulted in oxidative stress, genotoxicity and perturbation of reproductive parameters. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the protective effects of aqueous extract of Raphanus sativus growing in Tunisia against ZEN-induced reproductive toxicity and oxidative stress. Fifty male Balb/c mice were divided into five groups and treated for 28 days as follows: the control group, olive oil-treated groups, another treated with ZEN (40 mg/kg b.w), the last one treated with R. sativus extract alone (15 mg/kg b.w) and the other with ZEN + R. sativus extract. Testis samples were collected for the epididymal sperm count, testosterone concentration, and MDA level, GPx, CAT and SOD activities. Blood samples were collected for different biochemical analyses. Also, RAPD-PCR method was performed to assess the antigenotoxic effect of the extract in germ cells. The results indicated that ZEN-induced toxicological effects in accordance to those reported in the literature: decreasing in the sperm number, testosterone level and antioxidant enzyme status. The RAPD-PCR analysis revealed an alteration in the DNA bands patterns between control and ZEN-treated mice. The extract alone, rich in many antioxidant compounds, was safe and succeeded in counteracting the oxidative stress and protect against the toxicity resulting from ZEN.

Zearalenone induces immunotoxicity in mice: possible protective effects of radish extract (Raphanus sativus).

Radish (Raphanus sativus) has been extensively studied for its preventive effects against different degenerative diseases. Zearalenone (ZEN) is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium spp and is frequently implicated in immunological disorders and occasionally in hyperoestrogenic syndromes contributing to the increased risk of cancer and other diseases. The aims of this study were, firstly, to quantitatively evaluate the Tunisian radish extract (TRE) for its total flavonoids, isothiocyanates and antioxidant activity and, secondly, to investigate the protective role of TRE against immune system disorders in Balb/c mice treated with ZEN for two weeks. The results indicated that mice treated with ZEN (40 mg kg(-1)) alone showed a significant decrease in lymphocytes of the total white blood cells, immunoglobulin profile (IgG and IgM), B cells, T-cell sub-types (CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+) and natural killer and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Mice treated with TRE (5, 10 or 15 mg kg(-1)) for 7 days before, during or after ZEN treatment, however, showed a significant improvement in lymphocyte, immunoglobulin profile, T-cell sub-types, B cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, treatment with the highest dose of TRE (15 mgkg(-1)) enhanced the release of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta but the other parameters were comparable with those of the control. It could be concluded that TRE was effective in protecting against ZEN-induced immunological disorders. These results supported our hypothesis that TRE contains several compounds that are able to prevent or inhibit ZEN toxicity.