Zearalenone and its metabolites: Effect on human health, metabolism and neutralisation methods

Infant exposure to ochratoxin A, zearalenone, and deoxynivalenol from the consumption of milk formula and baby cereal in Chile

Ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEN), and deoxynivalenol (DON) are mycotoxins whose exposure is associated with various adverse health effects, including cancer and renal disorders, estrogenic effects, and immunosuppressive and gastrointestinal disorders, respectively. Infants (<2 years) are the most vulnerable group to mycotoxins, representing a unique combination of restricted food consumption types, low body weight, lower ability to eliminate toxins, and more future years to accumulate toxins. This study aimed to estimate the infant́s exposure to OTA, DON, and ZEN due to the consumption of milk formula and baby cereals in Chile. Milk formula samples (n = 41) and baby cereals (n = 30) were collected and analyzed using commercial ELISA kits for OTA, DON, and ZEA determination. Exposure was assessed by the Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) approach (mean and worst-case scenario, WCS) with the levels found in a modified Lower Bound (mLB) and Upper Bound (UB); ideal consumption (<6m, 7-12 m, and 13-24 m); adjusted by the weight of each group. The risk was estimated by comparing the EDI with a reference tolerable daily intake or by the margin of exposure (MOE) in the case of OTA. DON and OTA occurrence in infant formula were 34 % and 41 %, respectively. The co-occurrence between these mycotoxins was 22 %. Mycotoxin contents were below LOQ values except for OTA determined in one sample (0.29 ng/ml). No milk formulae were contaminated with ZEN. In the case of baby cereals, the occurrences were 17 % for OTA, 30 % for DON, and 7 % for ZEN, all below LOQ. Co-occurrence was seen in two samples between ZEN and OTA. According to exposure calculations, the MOE for OTA was less than 10,000 in all models for milk formula between 0 to 12 months of age and in the UB and WCS for cereal consumption. Health concerns were observed for DON in the WCS and UB for milk consumption in all ages and only in the UB WCS for cereal consumption. Considering the high consumption of milk formula in these age groups, regulation of OTA and other co-occurring mycotoxins in infant milk and food is strongly suggested.

A new physical and biological strategy to reduce the content of zearalenone in infected wheat kernels: the effect of cold needle perforation, microorganisms, and purified enzyme

With the aim of reintroducing wheat grains naturally contaminated with mycotoxins into the food value chain, a decontamination strategy was developed in this study. For this purpose, in a first step, the whole wheat kernels were pre-treated using cold needle perforation. The pore size was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and the accessibility of enzymes and microorganisms determined using fluorescent markers in the size range of enzymes (5 nm) and microorganisms (10 μm), and fluorescent microscopy. The perforated wheat grains, as well as non-perforated grains as controls, were then incubated with selected microorganisms (Bacillus megaterium Myk145 and B. licheniformis MA572) or with the enzyme ZHD518. The two bacilli strains were not able to significantly reduce the amount of zearalenone (ZEA), neither in the perforated nor in the non-perforated wheat kernels in comparison with the controls. In contrast, the enzyme ZHD518 significantly reduced the initial concentration of ZEA in the perforated and non-perforated wheat kernels in comparison with controls. Moreover, in vitro incubation of ZHD518 with ZEA showed the presence of two non-estrogenic degradation products of ZEA: hydrolysed zearalenone (HZEA) and decarboxylated hydrolysed ZEA (DHZEA). In addition, the physical pre-treatment led to a reduction in detectable mycotoxin contents in a subset of samples. Overall, this study emphasizes the promising potential of combining physical pre-treatment approaches with biological decontamination solutions in order to address the associated problem of mycotoxin contamination and food waste reduction.

Development of a corn flour certified reference material for the accurate determination of zearalenone

A certified reference material (CRM, KRISS 108-01-002) for zearalenone in corn flour was developed to assure reliable and accurate measurements in testing laboratories. Commercially available corn flour underwent freeze-drying, pulverization, sieving, and homogenization. The final product was packed in amber bottles, approximately 14 g per unit, and preserved at -70 °C. 13C18-Zearalenone was used as an internal standard (IS) for the certification of zearalenone by isotope-dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC‒MS/MS) and for the analysis of α-zearalenol, β-zearalenol, and zearalanone by LC‒MS/MS. The prepared CRM was sufficiently homogeneous, as the among-unit relative standard deviation for each mycotoxin ranged from 2.2 to 5.7 %. Additionally, the stability of the mycotoxins in the CRM was evaluated under different temperature conditions and scheduled test periods, including storage at -70°C, -20°C, and 4°C and room temperature for up to 12 months, 6 months, and 1 month, respectively. The content of each target mycotoxin in the CRM remained stable throughout the monitoring period at each temperature. Zearalenone content (153.6 ± 8.0 µg/kg) was assigned as the certified value. Meanwhile, the contents of α-zearalenol (1.30 ± 0.17 µg/kg), β-zearalenol (4.75 ± 0.33 µg/kg), and zearalanone (2.09 ± 0.16 µg/kg) were provided as informative values.

Electrochemiluminescence immunosensor based on tin dioxide quantum dots and palladium-modified graphene oxide for the detection of zearalenone

Developing low-cost and efficient methods to enhance the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) intensity of luminophores is highly desirable and challenging. Herein, we developed an efficient ECL system based on palladium-modified graphene oxide as a substrate and tin dioxide quantum dot-modified spike-like gold-silver alloy as an immunoprobe. Specifically, palladium-modified graphene oxide was rationally selected as the sensor substrate for the attachment of zearalenone antigens while facilitating the amplification of the ECL signal through enhanced electron transfer efficiency. A spike-like gold-silver alloy modified with tin dioxide quantum dots was attached to the zearalenone antibody as an immunoprobe, and the sensor exhibited remarkable sensitivity due to the exceptional ECL performance of the quantum dots. To demonstrate the practical feasibility of the principle, zearalenone levels were detected in actual samples of maize and pig urine, and the sensor showed a broad linear range (0.0005-500 ng mL-1) and low detection limit (0.16 pg mL-1) in the high-sensitivity detection of Zearalenone. Overall, this work first reports the construction of a highly sensitive ECL immunosensor for the detection of zearalenone using a protruding gold-silver alloy modified with tin dioxide as an immunoprobe and a palladium modified graphene oxide as a substrate. It provides a novel approach for the detection of small molecule toxin-like substances.

Interaction of mycotoxins zearalenone, α-zearalenol, and β-zearalenol with cytochrome P450 (CYP1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4) enzymes and organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATP1A2, OATP1B1, OATP1B3, and OATP2B1)

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a mycoestrogen produced by Fusarium fungi. ZEN is a frequent contaminant in cereal-based products, representing significant health threat. The major reduced metabolites of ZEN are α-zearalenol (α-ZEL) and β-zearalenol (β-ZEL). Since the toxicokinetic interactions of ZEN/ZELs with cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) and organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs) have been barely characterized, we examined these interactions applying in vitro models. ZEN and ZELs were relatively strong inhibitors of CYP3A4 and moderate inhibitors of CYP1A2 and CYP2C9. Both CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 decreased ZEN and β-ZEL concentrations in depletion assays, while only CYP1A2 reduced α-ZEL levels. OATPs tested were strongly or moderately inhibited by ZEN and ZELs; however, these mycotoxins did not show higher cytotoxicity in OATP-overexpressing cells. Our results help the deeper understanding of the toxicokinetic/pharmacokinetic interactions of ZEN, α-ZEL, and β-ZEL.

Similarities in Structure and Function of UDP-Glycosyltransferase Homologs from Human and Plants

The uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferase (UGT) superfamily plays a key role in the metabolism of xenobiotics and metabolic wastes, which is essential for detoxifying those species. Over the last several decades, a huge effort has been put into studying human and mammalian UGT homologs, but family members in other organisms have been explored much less. Potentially, other UGT homologs can have desirable substrate specificity and biological activities that can be harnessed for detoxification in various medical settings. In this review article, we take a plant UGT homology, UGT71G1, and compare its structural and biochemical properties with the human homologs. These comparisons suggest that even though mammalian and plant UGTs are functional in different environments, they may support similar biochemical activities based on their protein structure and function. The known biological functions of these homologs are discussed so as to provide insights into the use of UGT homologs from other organisms for addressing human diseases related to UGTs.

Effect of DON and ZEN and their metabolites DOM-1 and HZEN on B cell proliferation and antibody production

Introduction

The mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN), produced by Fusarium fungi, are frequently found in the cereal-rich diet of pigs and can modulate the immune system. Some enzymes or bacteria present in the digestive tract can de-epoxydize DON to deepoxy-deoxynivalenol (DOM-1) and biotransform ZEN into hydrolyzed ZEN (HZEN). The effects of these metabolites on immune cells, particularly with respect to the vaccine responses, are poorly documented. The aim of this study was to address the impact of DON and ZEN and their respective derivatives, on proliferation, and antibody production of porcine B cells in vitro.

Methods

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), isolated from healthy pigs, were stimulated with the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7/8-agonist Resiquimod (R848) or the TLR/1/2-agonist Pam3Cys-SKKKK in combination with DON [0.1-1.6 µM] or DOM-1 [1.6 µM and 16 µM] and ZEN [2.5-40 µM] or HZEN [40 µM].

Results

A strong decrease in B-cell proliferation was observed at DON concentrations equal to or exceeding 0.8 µM and at ZEN concentrations equal to or exceeding 20 µM. Treatment with 1.6 µM DON or 40 µM ZEN led to almost a complete loss of live CD79α+ B cells. Moreover, CD21 expression of proliferating IgG+ and IgM+ B-cell subsets was decreased at DON concentrations equal to and exceeding 0.4 µM and at ZEN concentrations equal to or exceeding 10 µM. ELISpot assays revealed a decrease of IgG-secreting B cells at concentrations of and exceeding 0.4 µM and at ZEN concentrations equal to and exceeding 10 µM. ELISA assays showed a decrease of IgM, IgG, and IgA secretion at concentrations equal to or exceeding 0.4 µM DON. ZEN reduced IgM secretion at 20-40 µM (both R848 and Pam3Cys-SKKKK), IgG secretion at 40 µM (both R848 and Pam3Cys-SKKKK) and IgA secretion at 20-40 µM.

Discussion

Our in vitro experiments show that while DON and ZEN impair immunoglobulin production and B-cell proliferation, this effect is abrogated by HZEN and DOM-1.

Toxicity, biodegradation, and nutritional intervention mechanism of zearalenone

Zearalenone (ZEA), a global mycotoxin commonly found in a variety of grain products and animal feed, causes damage to the gastrointestinal tract, immune organs, liver and reproductive system. Many treatments, including physical, chemical and biological methods, have been reported for the degradation of ZEA. Each degradation method has different degradation efficacies and distinct mechanisms. In this article, the global pollution status, hazard and toxicity of ZEA are summarized. We also review the biological detoxification methods and nutritional regulation strategies for alleviating the toxicity of ZEA. Moreover, we discuss the molecular detoxification mechanism of ZEA to help explore more efficient detoxification methods to better reduce the global pollution and hazard of ZEA.

Effective degradation of zearalenone by dye-decolorizing peroxidases from Pleurotus ostreatus and its metabolic pathway and toxicity analysis

The widespread detection of zearalenone (ZEN) in cereal crops and feeds poses a significant threat to both humans and animals. Consequently, the urgency for the international community to address this issue is evident in the demand for safe and effective measures to mitigate zearalenone contamination and explore detoxification methods. In this study, a dye-decolorizing peroxidase (PoDyP4) from Pleurotus ostreatus is characterized for its impressive ZEN degradation effectiveness. PoDyP4 was demonstrated that the ability to almost completely degrade ZEN at pH 6.0 and 40 °C for 2 h, even at high concentrations of 1 mM. The promotion of enzymatic degradation of ZEN was most pronounced in the presence of Mg2+, while Cu2+ and Fe2+ exhibited a notable inhibitory effect. The degradation mechanism elucidated the detoxification of ZEN by PoDyP4 through hydroxylation and polymerization reactions. The resulting metabolic products displayed significantly reduced toxicity and minimal impact on the viability and apoptosis of mouse spermatocytes GC-2 cells, in comparison to the original ZEN. Hydrophobic contacts and hydrogen bonds were found to be crucial for ZEN-PoDyP4 stability via molecular docking. This finding suggests that PoDyP4 may have a promising application in the field of food and feed for zearalenone detoxification.

A sensitive monoclonal antibody-based ELISA integrated with immunoaffinity column extraction for the detection of zearalenone in food and feed samples

Zearalenone (ZEN) is one of the most toxic mycotoxins widely found in agricultural products. In this study, a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) integrated with immunoaffinity column extraction for the detection of ZEN in food and feed samples was developed. A ZEN derivative containing a carboxylic group was first synthesized and then linked to bovine serum albumin (BSA). The formed ZEN-BSA conjugate was used as the immunogen for the production of the monoclonal antibody (mAb) against ZEN. The hybridoma clones (1G5) capable of secreting antibodies against ZEN were successfully selected. Based on this mAb, the IC50 and LOD of the ELISA for ZEN were 0.37 ng mL-1 and 0.04 ng mL-1, respectively, which were 1.6-308.1 times lower than those in the published ELISAs, indicating the high sensitivity of our assay. There was no cross-reactivity of the mAb with other four mycotoxins (patulin, AFB1, DON, and OTA). Due to the high similarity in molecular structures among ZEN and its homologs (α-zearalanol, β-zearalanol, zearalanone, α-zearalenol, β-zearalenol), the CR values of the mAb with the homologs were within 3.59%-105.71%. Taking advantage of plenty of mAb, the immunoaffinity column was prepared by immobilizing the mAb on Sepharose-4B gel and filling it into an SPE column. ZEN spiked samples (corn, wheat, feed) were extracted using an immunoaffinity column and measured by ELISA and HPLC-FLD simultaneously. The recoveries of the ELISA for ZEN in the spiked samples were 92.46-105.48% with RSDs of 4.87-10.11%. A good correlation between ELISA (x) and HPLC-FLD (y) with the linear regression equation y = 1.0589x + 1.43815 (R2 = 0.998, n = 6) was obtained. To verify the applicability, the proposed ELISA was also applied to some real samples randomly collected from a local market. It was proven that the newly produced mAb-based ELISA was a feasible and sensitive method for the detection of ZEN in food and feed samples.

Capacity and kinetics of zearalenone adsorption by Geotrichum candidum LG-8 and its dried fragments in solution

The application of LG-8 and its dry fragments as zearalenone (ZEN) adsorbents was investigated. The study showed that Geotrichum candidum LG-8 and its fragments dried at 55°C or through lyophilization are able to adsorb around 80% of ZEN. However, besides in water and 55°C-drying conditions, SEM indicated that higher 90% of ZEN binding tended to occur when cell walls of fragments were intact with less adhesion among themselves. Notably, ZEN/LG-8 fragments complexes were quite stable, as only 1.262% and 1.969% of ZEN were released after successive pH treatments for 4 h and 5 min. The kinetic data signified that adsorption of ZEN onto LG-8 fragments followed well the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Isotherm calculations showed Langmuir model was favourable and monolayer adsorption of ZEN occurred at functional binding sites on fragments surface. Therefore, we conclude that it can be an alternative biosorbent to treat water contained with ZEN, since LG-8 is low-cost biomass and its fragments have a considerable high biosorption capacity avoiding impacting final product quality and immunodeficient patients.

Improvement of the sensitivity of lateral flow systems for detecting mycotoxins: Up-to-date strategies and future perspectives

Mycotoxins are dangerous human and animal health-threatening secondary fungal metabolites that can be found in various food and agricultural products. Several countries have established regulations to restrict their presence in food and agricultural products destined for human and animal consumption. Consequently, the need to develop highly sensitive and smart detection systems was recognized worldwide. Lateral flow assay possesses the advantages of easy operation, rapidity, stability, accuracy, and specificity, and it plays an important role in the detection of mycotoxins. Nevertheless, strategies to comprehensively improve the sensitivity of lateral flow assay to mycotoxins in food have rarely been highlighted and discussed. In this article, a comprehensive overview was presented on the application of lateral flow assay in mycotoxin detection in food samples by highlighting the principle of lateral flow assay, presenting a detailed discussion on various analytical performance-improvement strategies, such as the development of high-affinity recognition reagents, immunogen immobilization methods, and signal amplification. Additionally, a detailed discussion on the various signal analyzers and interpretation approaches was provided. Finally, current hurdles and future perspectives on the application of lateral flow assay in the detection of mycotoxins were discussed.

Quantitative Rapid Magnetic Immunoassay for Sensitive Toxin Detection in Food: Non-Covalent Functionalization of Nanolabels vs. Covalent Immobilization

In this study, we present a novel and ultrasensitive magnetic lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) tailored for the precise detection of zearalenone, a mycotoxin with significant implications for human and animal health. A versatile and straightforward method for creating non-covalent magnetic labels is proposed and comprehensively compared with a covalent immobilization strategy. We employ the magnetic particle quantification (MPQ) technique for precise detection of the labels and characterization of their functionality, including measuring the antibody sorption density on the particle surface. Through kinetic studies using the label-free spectral phase interferometry, the rate and equilibrium constants for the binding of monoclonal antibodies with free (not bound with carrier protein) zearalenone were determined to be kon = 3.42 × 105 M-1s-1, koff = 7.05 × 10-4 s-1, and KD = 2.06 × 10-9 M. The proposed MPQ-LFIA method exhibits detection limits of 2.3 pg/mL and 7.6 pg/mL when employing magnetic labels based on covalent immobilization and non-covalent sorption, with dynamic ranges of 5.5 and 5 orders, correspondingly. We have successfully demonstrated the effective determination of zearalenone in barley flour samples contaminated with Fusarium graminearum. The ease of use and effectiveness of developed test systems further enhances their value as practical tools for addressing mycotoxin contamination challenges.

The intestinal microbiota as mediators between dietary contaminants and host health

The gut microbiota sit at an important interface between the host and the environment, and are exposed to a multitude of nutritive and non-nutritive substances. These microbiota are critical to maintaining host health, but their supportive roles may be compromised in response to endogenous compounds. Numerous non-nutritive substances are introduced through contaminated foods, with three common groups of contaminants being bisphenols, phthalates, and mycotoxins. The former contaminants are commonly introduced through food and/or beverages packaged in plastic, while mycotoxins contaminate various crops used to feed livestock and humans alike. Each group of contaminants have been shown to shift microbial communities following exposure; however, specific patterns in microbial responses have yet to be identified, and little is known about the capacity of the microbiota to metabolize these contaminants. This review characterizes the state of existing research related to gut microbial responses to and biotransformation of bisphenols, phthalates, and mycotoxins. Collectively, we highlight the need to identify consistent, contaminant-specific responses in microbial shifts, whether these community alterations are a result of contaminant effects on the host or microbiota directly, and to identify the extent of contaminant biotransformation by microbiota, including if these transformations occur in physiologically relevant contexts.

Detoxification of mycotoxins in agricultural products by non-thermal physical technologies: a review of the past five years

Mycotoxins produced by Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp. and Fusarium spp. with small molecular weight and thermal stability, are highly toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites. Mycotoxins have caused widespread concern regarding food safety internationally because of their adverse effects on the health of humans and animals, and the major economic losses they cause. There is an urgent need to find ways to reduce or eliminate the impact of mycotoxins in food and feed without introducing new safety issues, or reducing nutritional quality. Non-thermal physical technology is the basis for new techniques to degrade mycotoxins, with great potential for practical detoxification applications in the food industry. Compared with conventional thermal treatments, non-thermal physical detoxification technologies are easier to apply and effective, with less adverse impact on the nutritional value of agricultural products. The advantages, limitations and development prospects of these new detoxification technologies are discussed. Further studies are recommended to standardize the treatment conditions for each detoxification technology, evaluate the safety of the degradation products, and to combine different detoxification technologies to achieve synergistic effects. This will facilitate realization of the great potential of the new technologies and the development of practical applications.

Contamination of herbal medicinal products in low-and-middle-income countries: A systematic review

The use of herbal medicinal products (HMPs) has grown significantly across low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). Consequently, the safety of these products due to contamination is a significant public health concern. This systematic review aimed to determine the prevalence, types, and levels of contaminants in HMPs from LMICs. A search was performed in seven online databases, i.e., Africa journal online (AJOL), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Health Inter-Network Access to Research Initiative (HINARI), World Health Organization Global Index Medicus (WHO GIM), Scopus, and PubMed using appropriate search queries and reported as per the "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses" (PRISMA) guidelines. Ninety-one peer-reviewed articles published from 1982 to 2021 from 28 different countries across four continents were included in the study. Although metals, microbial, mycotoxins, pesticides, and residual solvents were the reported contaminants in the 91 articles, metals (56.0%, 51/91), microbial (27.5%, 25/91), and mycotoxins (18.7%, 17/91) were the most predominant. About 16.4% (1236/7518) of the samples had their contaminant levels above the regulatory limits. Samples tested for microbial contaminants had the highest proportion (46.4%, 482/1039) of contaminants exceeding the regulatory limit, followed by mycotoxins (25.8%, 109/423) and metals (14.3%, 591/4128). The proportion of samples that had their average non-essential metal contaminant levels above the regulatory limit was (57.6%, 377/655), 18.3% (88/480), 10.7% (24/225), and 11.3% (29/257) for Pb, Cd, Hg, and As, respectively. The commonest bacteria species found were Escherichia coli (52.3%, 10/19) and Salmonella species (42.1%, 8/19). This review reported that almost 90% of Candida albicans and more than 80% of moulds exceeded the required regulatory limits. HMP consumption poses profound health implications to consumers and patients. Therefore, designing and/or implementing policies that effectively regulate HMPs to minimize the health hazards related to their consumption while improving the quality of life of persons living in LMICs are urgently needed.

Endocrine Effect of Some Mycotoxins on Humans: A Clinical Review of the Ways to Mitigate the Action of Mycotoxins

Fungi such as Aspergillus spp. and Fusarium spp., which are commonly found in the environment, pose a serious global health problem. This study aims to present the results of epidemiological studies, including clinical cases, on the relationship between human exposure to some mycotoxins, especially zearalenone and aflatoxin, and the occurrence of reproductive disorders. In addition, examples of methods to reduce human exposure to mycotoxins are presented. In March 2023, various databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE and Web of Science) were systematically searched using Google Chrome to identify studies evaluating the association between exposure to mycotoxins and the occurrence of complications related to impaired fertility or cancer incidence. The analysed data indicate that exposure to the evaluated mycotoxins is widespread and correlates strongly with precocious puberty, reduced fertility and increased cancer incidence in women and men worldwide. There is evidence to suggest that exposure to the Aspergillus mycotoxin aflatoxin (AF) during pregnancy can impair intrauterine foetal growth, promote neonatal jaundice and cause perinatal death and preterm birth. In contrast, exposure to the Fusarium mycotoxin zearalenone (ZEA) leads to precocious sexual development, infertility, the development of malformations and the development of breast cancer. Unfortunately, the development of methods (biological, chemical or physical) to completely eliminate exposure to mycotoxins has limited practical application. The threat to human health from mycotoxins is real and further research is needed to improve our knowledge and specific public health interventions.

Degradation of zearalenone by microorganisms and enzymes

Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites produced by fungi that may cause serious health problems in humans and animals. Zearalenone is a secondary metabolite produced by fungi of the genus Fusarium, widely exists in animal feed and human food. One concern with the use of microbial strains and their enzyme derivatives for zearalenone degradation is the potential variability in the effectiveness of the degradation process. The efficiency of degradation may depend on various factors such as the type and concentration of zearalenone, the properties of the microbial strains and enzymes, and the environmental conditions. Therefore, it is important to carefully evaluate the efficacy of these methods under different conditions and ensure their reproducibility. Another important consideration is the safety and potential side effects of using microbial strains and enzymes for zearalenone degradation. It is necessary to evaluate the potential risks associated with the use of genetically modified microorganisms or recombinant enzymes, including their potential impact on the environment and non-target organisms. Additionally, it is important to ensure that the degradation products are indeed harmless and do not pose any health risks to humans or animals. Furthermore, while the use of microbial strains and enzymes may offer an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution for zearalenone degradation, it is important to explore other methods such as physical or chemical treatments as well. These methods may offer complementary approaches for zearalenone detoxification, and their combination with microbial or enzyme-based methods may improve overall efficacy. Overall, the research on the biodegradation of zearalenone using microorganisms and enzyme derivatives is promising, but there are important considerations that need to be addressed to ensure the safety and effectiveness of these methods. Development of recombinant enzymes improves enzymatic detoxification of zearalenone to a non-toxic product without damaging the nutritional content. This review summarizes biodegradation of zearalenone using microorganisms and enzyme derivatives to nontoxic products. Further research is needed to fully evaluate the potential of these methods for mitigating the impact of mycotoxins in food and feed.

Mycotoxins in Cereal-Based Products and Their Impacts on the Health of Humans, Livestock Animals and Pets

Cereal grains are the most important food staples for human beings and livestock animals. They can be processed into various types of food and feed products such as bread, pasta, breakfast cereals, cake, snacks, beer, complete feed, and pet foods. However, cereal grains are vulnerable to the contamination of soil microorganisms, particularly molds. The toxigenic fungi/molds not only cause quality deterioration and grain loss, but also produce toxic secondary metabolites, mycotoxins, which can cause acute toxicity, death, and chronic diseases such as cancer, immunity suppression, growth impairment, and neural tube defects in humans, livestock animals and pets. To protect human beings and animals from these health risks, many countries have established/adopted regulations to limit exposure to mycotoxins. The purpose of this review is to update the evidence regarding the occurrence and co-occurrence of mycotoxins in cereal grains and cereal-derived food and feed products and their health impacts on human beings, livestock animals and pets. The effort for safe food and feed supplies including prevention technologies, detoxification technologies/methods and up-to-date regulation limits of frequently detected mycotoxins in cereal grains for food and feed in major cereal-producing countries are also provided. Some important areas worthy of further investigation are proposed.

Mycotoxins and consumers' awareness: Recent progress and future challenges

While food shortages have become an important challenge, providing safe food resources is a point of interest on a global scale. Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites that are formed through various fungi species. They are mainly spread through diets such as food or beverages. About one quarter of the world's food is spoiled with mycotoxins. As this problem is not resolved, it represents a significant threat to global food security. Besides the current concerns regarding the contamination of food items by these metabolites, the lack of knowledge by consumers and their possible growth and toxin production attracted considerable attention. While globalization provides a favorite condition for some countries, food security still is challenging for most countries. There are various approaches to reducing the mycotoxigenic fungi growth and formation of mycotoxins in food, include as physical, chemical, and biological processes. The current article will focus on collecting data regarding consumers' awareness of mycotoxins. Furthermore, a critical overview and comparison among different preventative approaches to reduce risk by consumers will be discussed. Finally, the current effect of mycotoxins on global trade, besides future challenges faced by mycotoxin contamination on food security, will be discussed briefly.

Relevance of Zearalenone and its modified forms in bakery products

Zearalenone is a frequently occurring and well-known mycotoxin developed in cereals before and during the harvest period by Fusarium spp. mainly in maize and wheat. In addition to the main form, various modified forms (phase I and II metabolites) were detected, in some cases in high amounts. These modified forms can be harmful for human health due to their different toxicity, which can be much higher compared to the parent toxin. In addition, the parent toxin can be cleaved from the phase I and II metabolites during digestion. A risk of correlated and additive adverse effects of the metabolites of ZEN phase I and II in humans and animals is evident. ZEN is considered in many studies on its occurrence in grain-based foods and some studies are dedicated to the behavior of ZEN during food processing. This is not the case for the ZEN phase I and II metabolites, which are only included in a few occurrence reports. Their effects during food processing is also only sporadically addressed in studies to date. In addition to the massive lack of data on the occurrence and behavior of ZEN modified forms, there is also a lack of comprehensive clarification of the toxicity of the numerous different ZEN metabolites detected to date. Finally, studies on the fate during digestion of the relevant ZEN metabolites will be important in the future to further clarify their relevance in processed foods such as bakery products.

Novel insights into versatile nanomaterials integrated bioreceptors toward zearalenone ultrasensitive discrimination

Detrimental contamination of zearalenone (ZEN) in crops and foodstuffs has drawn intensive public attention since it poses an ongoing threat to global food security and human health. Highly sensitive and rapid response ZEN trace analysis suitable for complex matrices at different processing stages is an indispensable part of food production. Conventional detection methods for ZEN encounter many deficiencies and demerits such as sophisticated equipment and heavy labor intensity. Alternatively, the nanomaterial-based biosensors featured with high sensitivity, portability, and miniaturization are springing up and emerging as superb substitutes to monitor ZEN in recent years. Herein, we predominantly devoted to overview the progress in the fabrication strategies and applications of various nanomaterial-based biosensors, highlighting rationales on sensing mechanisms, response types, and practical analytical performance. Synchronously, the versatile nanomaterials integrating with diverse recognition elements for augmenting sensing capabilities are emphasized. Finally, critical challenges and perspectives to expedite ZEN detection are outlooked.

Mycotoxins on edible insects: Should we be worried?

Edible insects are a solid alternative to meet the growing demand for animal protein. However, there are doubts regarding the safety of insect consumption. Mycotoxins are substances of concern for food safety, as they may cause harmful effects on the human organism and accumulate in the tissues of some animals. This study focuses on the characteristics of the main mycotoxins, the mitigation of human consumption of contaminated insects, and the effects of mycotoxins on insect metabolism. To date, studies reported the interaction of the mycotoxins aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin B1, and T-2, isolated or combined, in three insect species from Coleoptera and one from Diptera order. The use of rearing substrates with low mycotoxin contamination did not reduce the survival and development of insects. Fasting practices and replacing contaminated substrate with a decontaminated one decreased the concentration of mycotoxins in insects. There is no evidence that mycotoxins accumulate in the tissues of the insects' larvae. Coleoptera species showed high excretion capacity, while Hermetia illucens had a lower excretion capacity of ochratoxin A, zearalenone, and deoxynivalenol. Thus, a substrate with low mycotoxin contamination could be used for raising edible insects, particularly from the Coleoptera order.

An enhanced fluorescent sensor system based on molecularly imprinted polymer chips with silver nanoparticles for highly-sensitive zearalenone analysis

A novel enhanced fluorescent sensor system for zearalenone (ZON) determination in flour samples is presented. The ZON-selective molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) films were developed with a computational modelling method and synthesised with cyclododecyl-2,4-dihydroxybenzoate as a "dummy" template and ethylene glycol methacrylate phosphate as a functional monomer acted as the selective recognition elements for ZON fluorescence detection. Spherical silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were embedded in the MIP films' structure to enhance the sensor sensitivity. The imprinted films showed a high ZON recognition ability compared to non-imprinted films. Various factors that affected the measurement of the analysed sample were investigated and optimised. Embedding the AgNPs in the MIP films' structure led to an enhanced sensitivity (up to a 200-fold decrease of LOD) compared to unmodified MIP films. This fluorescent sensor system provided ZON analysis with high sensitivity, specificity, and a wider linear dynamic range of 5 ng mL^-1 to 25 μg mL^-1. An enhanced fluorescent sensor system based on MIP chips with embedded AgNPs could detect trace amounts of ZON in foods and feedstuffs with high sensitivity and selectivity.

Oestrogens and progesterone in human milk and their effects on infant health outcomes: A narrative review

Human milk (HM) is a complex biological system that contains a wide range of bioactive components including oestrogens and progesterone. Whilst maternal oestrogens and progesterone concentrations drop rapidly after birth, they remain detectable in HM across lactation. Phytoestrogens and mycoestrogens, which are produced by plants and fungi, are also present in HM and can interact with oestrogen receptors to interfere with normal hormone functions. Despite the potential impact of HM oestrogens and progesterone on the infant, limited research has addressed their impact on the growth and health of breastfed infants. Furthermore, it is important to comprehensively understand the factors that contribute to these hormone levels in HM, in order to establish effective intervention strategies. In this review, we have summarized the concentrations of naturally occurring oestrogens and progesterone in HM from both endogenous and exogenous sources and discussed both maternal factors impacting HM levels and relationships with infant growth.

Automatic Pretreatment of Dispersive Liquid Liquid Microextraction Based on Immunomagnetic Beads Coupled with UPLC-FLD for the Determination of Zearalenone in Corn Oils

Sample pretreatment is a vital step in the detection of mycotoxins, and traditional pretreatment methods are time-consuming, labor-intensive and generate much organic waste liquid. In this work, an automatic, high-throughput and environmentally friendly pretreatment method is proposed. Immunomagnetic beads technology and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction technology are combined, and the zearalenone in corn oils is directly purified and concentrated under the solubilization effects of surfactant. The proposed pretreatment method allows for the batch pretreatment of samples without pre-extraction using organic reagents, and almost no organic waste liquid is produced. Coupled with UPLC-FLD, an effective and accurate quantitative detection method for zearalenone is established. The recovery of spiked zearalenone in corn oils at different concentrations ranges from 85.7 to 89.0%, and the relative standard deviation is below 2.9%. The proposed pretreatment method overcomes the shortcomings of traditional pretreatment methods and has broad application prospects.

Detection and quantification of zearalenone and its modified forms in enzymatically treated oat and wheat flour

An analytical method for the analysis of the mycotoxin zearalenone (ZEN) and its modified forms was developed. Sample preparation was performed based on a modified QuEChERS method combined with liquid chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometry detection. The method was tested for linearity, precision, limits of detection and quantification and recoveries. The evaluation of the above-mentioned parameters was performed on oat flour. The method was applied to oat and wheat flours that were submitted to an amylolytic treatment (α-amylase and amyloglucosidase), similar to the one used in the cereal-based baby food production process. A decrease in β-zearalenol (β-ZEL) and β-ZEL-14-sulfate of approximately 40% after 90 min incubation was observed, the other analytes did not show any significant changes. To our knowledge, this is the first method that approaches the identification and assessment of ZEN-sulfate derivates in a cereal matrix.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05683-6.

Zearalenone induces the senescence of cardiovascular cells in vitro and in vivo

Zearalenone is a contaminant in food and feed products. It has been reported that zearalenone could lead to serious damage to health. So far, it is unclear whether zearalenone could lead to cardiovascular aging-related injury. For this, we assessed the effect of zearalenone on cardiovascular aging. Cardiomyocyte cell lines and primary coronary endothelial cells were used as two cell models in vitro experiments, and Western-blot, indirect immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry were performed to study the effect of zearalenone on cardiovascular aging. Experimental results indicated zearalenone treatment increased Sa-β-gal positive cell ratio, and the expression of senescence markers (p16 and p21) was significantly upregulated. Additionally zearalenone upregulated the inflammation and oxidative stress in cardiovascular cells. Furthermore, the effect of zearalenone on cardiovascular aging was also evaluated in vivo, and the results indicated that zearalenone treatment also led to the aging of myocardial tissue. These findings suggest that zearalenone could lead to cardiovascular aging-related injury. Furthermore, we also preliminarily explored the potential effect of zeaxanthin (which is a powerful antioxidant) on zearalenone-caused aging-related damage in vitro cell model, and found that zeaxanthin could alleviate zearalenone-induced aging-related damage. Collectively, the most important finding of the current work is that zearalenone could lead to cardiovascular aging. Next in importance, we also found that zeaxanthin could partially alleviate zearalenone-induced cardiovascular aging in vitro, indicating that zeaxanthin can be used as a drug or functional food to treat cardiovascular damage caused by zearalenone.

Exploring the impact of lactic acid bacteria on the biocontrol of toxigenic Fusarium spp. and their main mycotoxins

The occurrence of fungi and mycotoxins in foods is a serious global problem. Most of the regulated mycotoxins in food are produced by Fusarium spp. This work aimed to assess the antifungal activity of selected lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains against the main toxigenic Fusarium spp. isolated from cereals. Various machine learning (ML) algorithms such as neural networks (NN), random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosted trees (XGBoost), and multiple linear regression (MLR), were applied to develop models able to predict the percentage of fungal growth inhibition caused by the LAB strains tested. In addition, the ability of the assayed LAB strains to reduce/inhibit the production of the main mycotoxins associated with these fungi was studied by UPLC-MS/MS. All assays were performed at 20, 25, and 30 °C in dual culture (LAB plus fungus) on MRS agar-cereal-based media. All factors and their interactions very significantly influenced the percentage of growth inhibition compared to controls. The efficacy of LAB strains was higher at 20 °C followed by 30 °C and 25 °C. Overall, the order of susceptibility of the fungi to LAB was F. oxysporum > F. poae = F. culmorum ≥ F. sporotrichioides > F. langsethiae > F. graminearum > F. subglutinans > F. verticillioides. In general, the most effective LAB was Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp. mesenteroides (T3Y6b), and the least effective were Latilactobacillus sakei ssp. carnosus (T3MM1 and T3Y2). XGBoost and RF were the algorithms that produced the most accurate predicting models of fungal growth inhibition. Mycotoxin levels were usually lower when fungal growth decreased. In the cultures of F. langsethiae treated with LAB, T-2 and HT-2 toxins were not detected except in the treatments with Pediococcus pentosaceus (M9MM5b, S11sMM1, and S1M4). These three strains of P. pentosaceus, L. mesenteroides ssp. mesenteroides (T3Y6b) and L. mesenteroides ssp. dextranicum (T2MM3) inhibited fumonisin production in cultures of F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides. In F. culmorum cultures, zearalenone production was inhibited by all LAB strains, except L. sakei ssp. carnosus (T3MM1) and Companilactobacillus farciminis (T3Y6c), whereas deoxynivalenol and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol were only detected in cultures of L. sakei ssp. carnosus (T3MM1). The results show that an appropriate selection and use of LAB strains can be one of the most impacting tools in the control of toxigenic Fusarium spp. and their mycotoxins in food and therefore one of the most promising strategies in terms of efficiency, positive impact on the environment, food safety, food security, and international economy.

Protective effect of glucosamine on zearalenone-induced reproductive toxicity and placental dysfunction in mice

This study was conducted to determine the effects of glucosamine (GlcN) on zearalenone (ZEA)-induced reproductive toxicity and placental dysfunction in mice. The pregnant mice were randomly divided into one of the four groups, such as the control group, the ZEA group, the GlcN group, and the GlcN plus ZEA group. Reproductive toxicity was induced by consecutive gavages of ZEA at 5 mg/kg body weight during gestational days (GDs 0-14) and in the presence or absence of oral administration of GlcN (0.5 mM). The results showed that GlcN significantly alleviated the decrease of growth performance induced by ZEA exposure of pregnant mice. Meanwhile, ZEA ingestion significantly reduced the number and weight of fetuses, and reduction of placenta weight. Moreover, results of blood biochemical markers indicated that ZEA exposure led to increased oxidative stress levels in pregnant mice. Further analyses demonstrated that ZEA inhibited placental development, resulted in placental inflammation, increased the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins, and decreased the expression of placental tight junction proteins, which were reversed by the administration of GlcN. Results of western blot revealed that GlcN reversed ZEA-mediated phenotype by activating PI3K, while inhibiting MAPK signaling pathway. All these findings showed that GlcN was effective in the protection against ZEA-induced placental dysfunction and reproductive toxicity in pregnant mice. Supplementation of GlcN might be potential nutritional intervention with an ability to alleviate ZEA-induced toxicity in pregnant mice.

Environment, Grain Development, and Harvesting Strategy Effects on Zearalenone Contamination of Grain from Fusarium Head Blight-Affected Wheat Spikes

Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by the fungus Fusarium graminearum, is associated with grain contamination with mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA). Unlike DON, less is known about factors affecting ZEA production during FHB epidemics. The objective of this study was to quantify ZEA contamination of wheat grain as influenced by temperature, relative humidity, FHB index (IND), grain maturation, simulated late-season rainfall, and harvest timing. Mean ZEA concentrations were low (<1.1 ppm) during the early stages of grain development (25 to 31 days after anthesis [DAA]) but rapidly increased 35 to 51 DAA in field experiments, particularly under rainy conditions. Five or ten consecutive days with simulated rainfall shortly before harvest greatly increased ZEA contamination. Similarly, extremely high levels of ZEA (51.8 to 468.6 ppm) were observed in grain from spikes exposed to 100% relative humidity (RH) at all tested temperatures and mean IND levels under controlled conditions. Interestingly, at RH ≤ 90%, ZEA concentrations were very low (0.1 to 3.6 ppm) at all tested temperatures, even at IND above 90%. At 100% RH, mean ZEA contamination was significantly higher at 20 and 25°C (235.1 and 278.2 ppm) than at 30°C (104.7 ppm). Grain harvested early and not exposed to rainfall had lower mean ZEA than grain harvested late and/or subjected to preharvest rainfall. This study was the first to associate ZEA contamination of grain from FHB-affected wheat spikes with temperature and moisture and show through designed experiments that early harvest could be a useful strategy for reducing ZEA contamination.

Probiotic cultures as a potential protective strategy against the toxicity of environmentally relevant chemicals: State-of-the-art knowledge

Environmentally relevant toxic substances may affect human health, provoking numerous harmful effects on central nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine and reproductive system, and even cause various types of carcinoma. These substances, to which general population is constantly and simultaneously exposed, enter human body via food and water, but also by inhalation and dermal contact, while accumulating evidence suggests that probiotic cultures are able to efficiently adsorb and/or degrade them. Cell wall of probiotic bacteria/fungi, which contains structures such as exopolysaccharide, teichoic acid, protein and peptidoglycan components, is considered the main place of toxic substances adsorption. Moreover, probiotics are able to induce metabolism and degradation of various toxic substances, making them less toxic and more suitable for elimination. Other probable in vivo protective effects have also been suggested, including decreased intestinal absorption and increased excretion of toxic substances, prevented gut microbial dysbiosis, increase in the intestinal mucus secretion, decreased production of reactive oxygen species, reduction of inflammation, etc. Having all of this in mind, this review aims to summarize the state-of-the-art knowledge regarding the potential protective effects of different probiotic strains against environmentally relevant toxic substances (mycotoxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, phthalates, bisphenol A and toxic metals).

Phenolic compounds as natural microbial toxin detoxifying agents

Despite the abundance of promising studies, developments, and improvements about the elimination of microbial toxins from food matrices, they are still considered as one of the major food safety problems due to the lack of their complete avoidance even today. Every year, many crops and foodstuffs have to be discarded due to unconstrained contamination and/or production of microbial toxins. Furthermore, the difficulty for the detection of toxin presence and determination of its level in foods may lead to acute or chronic health problems in many individuals. On the other hand, phenolic compounds might be considered as microbial toxin detoxification agents because of their inhibition effect on the toxin synthesis of microorganisms or exhibiting protective effects against varying damaging mechanisms caused by toxins. In this study, the effect of phenolic compounds on the synthesis of bacterial toxins and mycotoxins is comprehensively reviewed. The potential curing effect of phenolic compounds against toxin-induced damages has also been discussed. Consequently, phenolic compounds are indicated as promising, and considerable natural preservatives against toxin damages and their detoxification potentials are pronounced.

Effects of moldy corn on the performance, antioxidant capacity, immune function, metabolism and residues of mycotoxins in eggs, muscle, and edible viscera of laying hens

Mycotoxins, including aflatoxin B1 (AFB₁), zearalenone (ZEN) and deoxynivalenol (DON), are common contaminants of moldy feeds. Mycotoxins can cause deleterious effects on the health of chickens and can be carried over in poultry food products. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of moldy corn (containing AFB₁, ZEN, and DON) on the performance, health, and mycotoxin residues of laying hens. One hundred and eighty 400-day-old laying hens were divided into 4 treatments: basal diet (Control), basal diet containing 20% moldy corn (MC20), 40% moldy corn (MC40) and 60% moldy corn (MC60). At d 20, 40, and 60, the performance, oxidative stress, immune function, metabolism, and mycotoxin residues in eggs were determined. At d 60, mycotoxin residues in muscle and edible viscera were measured. Results showed the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and laying performance of laying hens were decreased with moldy corn treatments. All the moldy corn treatments also induced significant oxidative stress and immunosuppression, reflected by decreased antioxidase activities, contents of cytokines, immunoglobulins, and increased malonaldehyde level. Moreover, the activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase were increased by moldy corn treatments. The lipid metabolism was influenced in laying hens receiving moldy corn, reflected by lowered levels of total protein, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and increased total triglyceride as well as uric acid. The above impairments were aggravated with the increase of mycotoxin levels. Furthermore, AFB₁ and ZEN residues were found in eggs, muscle, and edible viscera with moldy corn treatments, but the residues were below the maximum residue limits. In conclusion, moldy corn impaired the performance, antioxidant capacity, immune function, liver function, and metabolism of laying hens at d 20, 40, and 60. Moldy corn also led to AFB₁ residue in eggs at d 20, 40, and 60, and led to both AFB₁ and ZEN residues in eggs at days 40 and 60, and in muscle and edible viscera at d 60. The toxic effects and mycotoxin residues were elevated with the increase of moldy corn levels in feed.

Zearalenone (ZEN) and Its Metabolite Levels in Tissues of Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) from Southern Italy: A Pilot Study

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin produced by the fungi of the Fusarium genera, and is a contaminant of cereals and plant products. ZEN and its metabolites are considered endocrine disruptors, and could have various toxic effects on animals and humans. In recent years, there has been a significant demographic increase in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in many mountainous and hilly areas of Italy, including the Campania region, mainly due to global climate change. The wild boar can be defined as a generalist and omnivorous species capable of varying its diet; therefore, it can play a role as an environmental bioindicator towards contaminants such as mycotoxins. This study was conducted to evaluate, for the first time, the concentrations of ZEN and its metabolites in the liver, kidney, and muscle of 82 wild boars shot in their habitat by hunters with hunting permits in different localities of Avellino province (Campania region, Southern Italy) from 2021 to 2022. The samples were collected and analyzed with an SPE clean-up and high-pressure liquid chromatography method with fluorescence detection. The results indicated that ZEN and α-Zearalenol were present in most of the samples, suggesting that a plan to monitor these mycoestrogens is essential to achieve the goals of "One Health".

Enzymatic Degradation of Zearalenone in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Pigs, Chickens, and Rainbow Trout

The estrogenic mycotoxin zearalenone (ZEN) is a common contaminant of animal feed. Effective strategies for the inactivation of ZEN in feed are required. The ZEN-degrading enzyme zearalenone hydrolase ZenA (EC 3.1.1.-, commercial name ZENzyme^®, BIOMIN Holding GmbH, Getzersdorf, Austria) converts ZEN to hydrolyzed ZEN (HZEN), thereby enabling a strong reduction in estrogenicity. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of ZenA added to feed to degrade ZEN in the gastrointestinal tract of three monogastric animal species, i.e., pigs, chickens, and rainbow trout. For each species, groups of animals received (i) feed contaminated with ZEN (chickens: 400 µg/kg, pigs: 200 µg/kg, rainbow trout: 2000 µg/kg), (ii) feed contaminated with ZEN and supplemented with ZenA, or (iii) uncontaminated feed. To investigate the fate of dietary ZEN in the gastrointestinal tract in the presence and absence of ZenA, concentrations of ZEN and ZEN metabolites were analyzed in digesta of chickens and rainbow trout and in feces of pigs. Upon ZenA administration, concentrations of ZEN were significantly decreased and concentrations of the degradation product HZEN were significantly increased in digesta/feces of each investigated animal species, indicating degradation of ZEN by ZenA in the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, upon addition of ZenA to the diet, the concentration of the highly estrogenic ZEN metabolite α-ZEL was significantly reduced in feces of pigs. In conclusion, ZenA was effective in degrading ZEN to HZEN in the gastrointestinal tract of chickens, pigs, and rainbow trout, and counteracted formation of α-ZEL in pigs. Therefore, ZenA could find application as a ZEN-degrading feed additive for these animal species.

Cytoprotective, Antiproliferative, and Anti-Oxidant Potential of the Hydroethanolic Extract of Fridericia chica Leaves on Human Cancer Cell Lines Exposed to α- and β-Zearalenol

Fridericia chica (Bignoniaceae) is a Colombian Caribbean plant with numerous health benefits, including properties such as wound healing, immune system stimulation, and antioxidant capacity, among others. Mycotoxins alpha-zearalenol (α-ZEL) and beta-zearalenol (β-ZEL) are phase I metabolites of zearalenone, a natural product involved in endocrine disruption and cell proliferation processes. This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic potential of the hydroethanolic extract of F. chica leaves (HEFc) and determine their protective effects against proliferation induced by α-ZEL and β-ZEL on human hepatoma HepG2, lung cancer Calu-1, and primary normal human epidermal keratinocytes, neonatal (HEKn). The cytotoxicity of HEFc was measured in a range from 4 to 1000 µg/mL and from 0.4 to 100 μM for both α-ZEL and β-ZEL. Cell production of intracellular ROS was monitored using the H2-DCFDA probe. The cells exposed to HEFc presented IC50 of 128, 249, and 602 µg/mL for the HepG2, Calu-1, and HEKn cells, respectively. A greater selectivity was seen in HepG2 cells [selectivity index (SI) = 3.5] than in Calu-1 cells (SI = 2.4). Cells treated with mycotoxins remained viable during the first day, and cell proliferation increased at low tested concentrations (0.4-6.3 µM) in all three cell lines. However, after 48 h treatment, cells exposed to 50 and 100 µM of α-ZEL and β-ZEL displayed decreased viability. HEFc at 16 µg/mL was able to give some protection against cytotoxicity induced by high concentrations of β-ZEL in HepG2, reducing also cell proliferation elicited at low levels of α-ZEL and β-ZEL. ROS production was not observed in cells treated with this HEFc concentration; however, it prevented ROS formation induced by treatment with 50 µM α-ZEL or β-ZEL. In summary, HEFc isolated from plants grown in northern Colombia displayed promising results against cell proliferation and oxidative stress caused by mycotoxins.

Exposure assessment of aflatoxins and zearalenone in edible vegetable oils in Shandong, China: health risks posed by mycotoxin immunotoxicity and reproductive toxicity in children

Human exposure to aflatoxins (AFs) and zearalenone (ZEA) has not been sufficiently investigated. Here, we analyzed the exposure level and health risks posed by AFs (B1, B2, G1, G2) and ZEA through cooking oil consumption in Shandong, China. The individual daily consumption of cooking oil was calculated through 2745 questionnaires during 2017-2019. The average contamination levels of mycotoxins were estimated by examining 60 cooking oil samples. For the peanut oil, AFs ranged from <0.2 to 274 μg/kg, with a positive rate of 66.6% (20/30). Average levels of 36.62 μg/kg AFB₁ and 44.43 μg/kg total AFs were found. Over-the-limit level (20 μg/kg) of AFB₁ was detected in 8/30 samples. Estimated daily intake (EDI) and margin of exposure (MOE) for age-stratified population groups showed that children are facing highest adverse health risk with AFB₁ (MOE 5.88-6.39). The liver cancer incidences attributable to AFB₁ exposure are non-negligible as 0.896, 0.825, and 0.767 cases per 100,000 for 6-14 age group, 15-17 age group, and adult labor-intensive workers. Over-the-limit level (60 μg/kg) ZEA contamination was detected in 25/30 corn oil samples with a 50th percentile value of 97.95 μg/kg. Our health risk assessment suggested significant health risks of enterohepatic (inflammation and cancer), reproductive, and endocrine systems posed by AFs and ZEA. However, the health risk of immunotoxicity is unclear because currently animal study data are not available for the immunotoxicity induced after long-term exposure. In general, the health risks posed by mycotoxins are non-negligible and long-term mycotoxin surveillance is necessary.

Betulinic acid alleviates zearalenone-induced uterine injury in mice

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin with estrogen-like biological activity, which widely present in feed and raw materials, with strong reproductive system toxicity and a major threat to animal reproduction. Betulinic acid (BA) is a natural plant compound with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other pharmacological activities. However, the mechanism of ZEA-induced uterine injury and the protective effect of BA have not been reported. Our results show that ZEA could cause uterine histopathological damage and cellular ultrastructural damage, affecting the secretion of sex hormones, such as estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4), and increase the mRNA and protein expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα). ZEA could inhibit the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), increase the production of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and cause uterine oxidative stress. Furthermore, ZEA affected the homeostasis of uterine cell proliferation and death by regulating the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and activating the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. ZEA-induced uterine injury might be related to the activation of p38/ERK MAPK signaling pathway. However, the regulatory effect of ZEA on the uterus was reversed after BA treatment. In conclusion, the uterus is an important target organ attacked by ZEA, and BA showed a good therapeutic effect.

Magnetic Nanoseparation Technology for Efficient Control of Microorganisms and Toxins in Foods: A Review

Outbreaks of foodborne diseases mediated by food microorganisms and toxins remain one of the leading causes of disease and death worldwide. It not only poses a serious threat to human health and safety but also imposes a huge burden on health care and socioeconomics. Traditional methods for the removal and detection of pathogenic bacteria and toxins in various samples such as food and drinking water have certain limitations, requiring a rapid and sensitive strategy for the enrichment and separation of target analytes. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) exhibit excellent performance in this field due to their fascinating properties. The strategy of combining biorecognition elements with MNPs can be used for fast and efficient enrichment and isolation of pathogens. In this review, we describe new trends and practical applications of magnetic nanoseparation technology in the detection of foodborne microorganisms and toxins. We mainly summarize the biochemical modification and functionalization methods of commonly used magnetic nanomaterial carriers and discuss the application of magnetic separation combined with other instrumental analysis techniques. Combined with various detection techniques, it will increase the efficiency of detection and identification of microorganisms and toxins in rapid assays.

Kinetics, Thermodynamics and Mechanism of Enzymatic Degradation of Zearalenone in Degummed Corn Oil

The kinetics and thermodynamics of the enzymatic degradation of zearalenone (ZEN) in degummed corn oil were investigated by analyzing the impacts of temperature, pH, ZEN hydrolase dosage and ZEN concentration on the initial reaction rate. The kinetic study found that the maximum reaction rate was 0.97 μmol × kg−1 min−1, the Michaelis constant (Km) was 11,476 μmol × kg−1 and the Michaelis equation was V = 0.97[S]/(11,476 + [S]). The thermodynamic study showed that the activation energy (Ea) was 70.37 kJ·mol−1, the activation enthalpy change of the reaction (ΔH) > 0, the free energy of activation (ΔG) > 0 and the activation entropy change (ΔS) < 0, indicating the reaction could not be spontaneous. The reaction mechanism of ZEN was studied by a hybrid quadrupole orbitrap mass spectrometer. It was found that ZEN first generated the intermediate G/L/D/W-ZEN+H2O, followed by generating the intermediate W-ZEN-H2O under the action of a degrading enzyme. Then, the lactone bond was opened to produce C18H24O6, and finally the decarboxylation product C17H24O4 formed automatically.

Interactions of Mycotoxin Alternariol with Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and OATP Transporters

Alternariol (AOH) is an emerging mycotoxin produced by Alternaria strains. The acute toxicity of the mycotoxin is low; however, chronic exposure to AOH may result in the development of endocrine disruptor and/or carcinogenic effects. The toxicokinetic properties of AOH have barely been characterized. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate its interactions with CYP (1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4) enzymes and OATP (1A2, 1B1, 1B3, and 2B1) transporters employing in vitro enzyme assays and OATP overexpressing cells, respectively. Our results demonstrated that AOH is a strong inhibitor of CYP1A2 (IC₅₀ = 0.15 μM) and CYP2C9 (IC₅₀ = 7.4 μM). Based on the AOH depletion assays in the presence of CYP enzymes, CYP1A2 is mainly involved, while CYP2C19 is moderately involved in the CYP-catalyzed biotransformation of the mycotoxin. AOH proved to be a strong inhibitor of each OATP transporter examined (IC₅₀ = 1.9 to 5.4 μM). In addition, both direct and indirect assays suggest the involvement of OATP1B1 in the cellular uptake of the mycotoxin. These findings promote the deeper understanding of certain toxicokinetic interactions of AOH.

Zearalenone disturbs the reproductive-immune axis in pigs: the role of gut microbial metabolites

BACKGROUND

Exposure to zearalenone (ZEN, a widespread Fusarium mycotoxin) causes reproductive toxicity and immunotoxicity in farm animals, and it then poses potential threats to human health through the food chain. A systematic understanding of underlying mechanisms on mycotoxin-induced toxicity is necessary for overcoming potential threats to farm animals and humans. The gastrointestinal tract is a first-line defense against harmful mycotoxins; however, it remains unknown whether mycotoxin (e.g., ZEN)-induced toxicity on the reproductive-immune axis is linked to altered gut microbial metabolites. In this study, using pigs (during the three phases) as an important large animal model, we investigated whether ZEN-induced toxicity on immune defense in the reproductive-immune axis was involved in altered gut microbial-derived metabolites. Moreover, we observed whether the regulation of gut microbial-derived metabolites through engineering ZEN-degrading enzymes counteracted ZEN-induced toxicity on the gut-reproductive-immune axis.

RESULTS

Here, we showed ZEN exposure impaired immune defense in the reproductive-immune axis of pigs during phase 1/2. This impairment was accompanied by altered gut microbial-derived metabolites [e.g., decreased butyrate production, and increased lipopolysaccharides (LPS) production]. Reduction of butyrate production impaired the intestinal barrier via a GPR109A-dependent manner, and together with increased LPS in plasma then aggravated the systemic inflammation, thus directly and/or indirectly disturbing immune defense in the reproductive-immune axis. To validate these findings, we further generated recombinant Bacillus subtilis 168-expressing ZEN-degrading enzyme ZLHY-6 (the Bs-Z6 strain) as a tool to test the feasibility of enzymatic removal of ZEN from mycotoxin-contaminated food. Notably, modified gut microbial metabolites (e.g., butyrate, LPS) through the recombinant Bs-Z6 strain counteracted ZEN-induced toxicity on the intestinal barrier, thus enhancing immune defense in the reproductive-immune axis of pigs during phase-3. Also, butyrate supplementation restored ZEN-induced abnormalities in the porcine small intestinal epithelial cell.

CONCLUSIONS

Altogether, these results highlight the role of gut microbial-derived metabolites in ZEN-induced toxicity on the gut-reproductive-immune axis. Importantly, targeting these gut microbial-derived metabolites opens a new window for novel preventative strategies or therapeutic interventions for mycotoxicosis associated to ZEN.

Possible Mechanisms of the Interplay between Drugs and Mycotoxins-Is There a Possible Impact?

Mycotoxin contamination is a global food safety issue leading to major public health concerns. Repeated exposure to multiple mycotoxins not only has repercussions on human health but could theoretically also lead to interactions with other xenobiotic substances-such as drugs-in the body by altering their pharmacokinetics and/or pharmacodynamics. The combined effects of chronic drug use and mycotoxin exposure need to be well understood in order to draw valid conclusions and, in due course, to develop guidelines. The aim of this review is to focus on food contaminants, more precisely on mycotoxins, and drugs. First, a description of relevant mycotoxins and their effects on human health and metabolism is presented. The potential for interactions of mycotoxins with drugs using in vitro and in vivo animal experiments is summarized. Predictive software tools for unraveling mycotoxin-drug interactions are proposed and future perspectives on this emerging topic are highlighted with a view to evaluate associated risks and to focus on precision medicine. In vitro and in vivo animal studies have shown that mycotoxins affect CYP450 enzyme activity. An impact from drugs on mycotoxins mediated via CYP450-enzymes is plausible; however, an impact of mycotoxins on drugs is less likely considering the much smaller dose exposure to mycotoxins. Drugs that are CYP450 perpetrators and/or substrates potentially influence the metabolism of mycotoxins, metabolized via these CYP450 enzymes. To date, very little research has been conducted on this matter. The only statistically sound reports describe mycotoxins as victims and drugs as perpetrators in interactions; however, more analysis on mycotoxin-drug interactions needs to be performed.

Endocrine disruptors in ancient times and Greek mythology: the spring of Salmacis and the curse of Hermaphroditus

According to Greek mythology, the spring waters of Salmacis (or Salmakis) feminized the god Hermaphroditus (or Hermaphroditos) and transformed his nature from male to half-male and half-female. The mythical properties of these waters are described in the writings of authors and philosophers of the Hellenistic period. It is evident that the spring of Salmacis and lake actually existed (located in Halicarnassus, today Bodrum, Turkey) and are not the product of poetic imagination. Hence, it could be hypothesized that there were certain natural elements in the waters that had a feminizing effect on the male reproductive axis. We now know, in fact, that naturally occurring environmental agents, also known as endocrine disruptors, can affect the endocrine and reproductive function of both males and females. However, since most endocrine disruptors today are manmade products of the modern industrial lifestyle, the presence and effect of naturally occurring disruptors in times preceding the Industrial Revolution are not widely discussed. It is thus against this background that we seek to formulate a differential diagnosis of male feminization attributable to the effect of natural environmental factors in the form of endocrine disruptors that will have existed in environments round the globe since time immemorial. We conclude that if there had been an accumulation of the mycotoxin zearalenone (ZEA) in the waters of Salmacis, chronic exposure to the lake's water could have resulted in the phenotypic changes described in the Salmacis myth.

Quantitative detection of zearalenone in wheat grains based on near-infrared spectroscopy

Zearalenone (ZEN) can easily contaminate wheat, seriously affecting the quality and safety of wheat grains. In this study, a near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy detection method for rapid detection of ZEN in wheat grains was proposed. First, the collected original near-infrared spectra were denoised, smoothed and scatter corrected by Savitzky-Golay smoothing (SG-smoothing) and multiple scattering correction (MSC), and then normalized. Three wavelength variable selection algorithms were used to select variables from the preprocessed NIR spectra, which were random frog (RF), successive projections algorithm (SPA), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). Finally, based on the feature variables extracted by the above algorithms, support vector machine (SVM) models were established respectively to realize the quantitative detection of the ZEN in wheat grains. Eventually, the prediction effect of the LASSO-SVM model was the best, the prediction correlation coefficient (R_P) was 0.99, the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) was 2.1 μg·kg^-1, and the residual prediction deviation (RPD) was 6.0. This research shows that the NIR spectroscopy can be used for high-precision quantitative detection of the ZEN in grains, and the research gives a new technical solution for the in-situ detection of mycotoxins in stored grains.

New Insights into the Deposition of Zearalenone in Minipigs: A Suitable Bioindicator for Internal Exposure

The detrimental footprint of mycotoxins in agriculture and on animal production has been widely recognized, especially in swine. Despite an increased number of research evaluating the toxicokinetics of mycotoxins in animal organisms, the absorption, distribution, metabolization, and excretion (ADME) patterns of zearalenone (ZEN) need further understanding. Furthermore, in vivo bioindicator for ZEN exposure in individual pigs has yet to be characterized. This study explored the ADME of ZEN in Bama Aroma pigs, a Chinese miniature pig breed, that has been used herein as a swine model. The findings revealed that ZEN was mainly metabolized into α-zearalenol (α-ZOL), and both ZEN and α-ZOL were mostly found in conjugated forms in the plasma, urine, and bile. The concentration and composition patterns of ZEN and its metabolites were tissue-specific, implying that the small intestine, liver, kidney, and lung play different roles in ZEN metabolism. The plasma concentrations of ZEN + α-ZOL highly correlated (R² = 0.993) with the ZEN dietary exposure and may be utilized as a bioindicator to investigate animal exposure and mitigation efficacy of mycotoxin detoxifiers. This research would provide both fundamental information and a useful animal model for ZEN toxicity and detoxification studies.

Efficacy of Genetic Resistance and Fungicide Application Against Fusarium Head Blight and Mycotoxins in Wheat Under Persistent Pre- and Postanthesis Moisture

Field experiments were conducted to investigate the efficacy of fungicide treatments in combination with genetic resistance against Fusarium head blight (FHB) and its associated mycotoxins under persistently wet pre- and postanthesis conditions in plots inoculated with Fusarium graminearum-colonized corn spawn. Treatments consisted of a single application of prothioconazole + tebuconazole at early anthesis (PA), or at 3 (P3), 6 (P6), or 9 (P9) days after early anthesis, or PA followed by a single application of metconazole at 3 (PA+C3), 6 (PA+C6), or 9 (PA+C9) days after early anthesis. PA and P3 were the most efficacious of the single-application treatments in terms of mean percentage control of FHB index (IND), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEA), and mean increase in grain yield and test weight (TW) relative to the nontreated susceptible check (S_CK). The double-application treatments (PA+C3, PA+C6, and PA+C9) were the most effective of all tested fungicide programs. However, relative to S_CK, the highest overall mean percentage reduction in IND, DON, and ZEA and increase in grain yield and TW were observed when the double-application fungicide programs were integrated with genetic resistance. The estimated net cash income (NCI) of the integrated management (IM) programs was consistently higher than the NCI of other tested programs across different grain prices and fungicide application costs. Thus, the benefits of the two-treatment IM programs under highly favorable conditions for FHB development were enough to offset the cost of two applications, making these programs profitable.

Current Review of Mycotoxin Biodegradation and Bioadsorption: Microorganisms, Mechanisms, and Main Important Applications

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi. Food/feed contamination by mycotoxins is a great threat to food safety. The contamination can occur along the food chain and can cause many diseases in humans and animals, and it also can cause economic losses. Many detoxification methods, including physical, chemical, and biological techniques, have been established to eliminate mycotoxins in food/feed. The biological method, with mycotoxin detoxification by microorganisms, is reliable, efficient, less costly, and easy to use compared with physical and chemical ones. However, it is important to discover the metabolite's toxicity resulting from mycotoxin biodegradation. These compounds can be less or more toxic than the parent. On the other hand, mechanisms involved in a mycotoxin's biological control remain still unclear. Mostly, there is little information about the method used by microorganisms to control mycotoxins. Therefore, this article presents an overview of the most toxic mycotoxins and the different microorganisms that have a mycotoxin detoxification ability. At the same time, different screening methods for degradation compound elucidation are given. In addition, the review summarizes mechanisms of mycotoxin biodegradation and gives some applications.