Zearalenone and Its Masked Forms in Cereals and Cereal-Derived Products: A Review of the Characteristics, Incidence, and Fate in Food Processing

Chronic exposure to Zearalenone leads to endometrial hyperplasia in CD-1 mice by altering the inflammatory markers

Background

Zearalenone (ZEA), a natural food contaminant, is reported to act as a mycoestrogen due to its estrogen-mimicking properties. According to studies, ZEA has a greater potential for estrogenic activity compared to any other naturally occurring non-steroidal estrogen. ZEA has been found in the endometrium of individuals with reproductive problems and the serum of children facing early puberty. These studies suggested a possible link between ZEA exposure and endometrial toxicity; nonetheless, no thorough research has been done. This study assessed the endometrium's response to chronic ZEA exposure.

Methods

Four groups of CD-1 female mice were exposed to control, estradiol (E2), and two different doses of ZEA for 90 days. At the end of treatment, blood and uterus were collected, and samples were used for inflammatory cytokines level, immunochemical, histopathological, and biophysical analysis.

Results

Our data indicated that the uterus showed a change in body/organ weight ratio, while other organs did not have any notable changes. Immunochemical and histological studies showed hyperplasia and a higher number of glands in the endometrium after ZEA and E2 exposure. Similarly, proliferation markers such as proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Ki-67, and inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8), and interferon-gamma (IFN-?) levels were found to be higher in the E2 and ZEA-exposed groups.

Conclusion

Our finding conclude that ZEA targets the uterus and cause inflammation due to increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and proliferation mediators, as well as systemic toxicity denoted by a strong binding affinity with serum proteins.

Determination of Mycotoxins in Plant-Based Meat Alternatives (PBMAs) and Ingredients after Microwave Cooking

In this study, we investigate the role of microwave cooking in reducing mycotoxin contamination in plant-based food matrices, with a focus on veggie burgers (purchased and home-made) and their ingredients (soybean, potatoes, zucchini, carrots). Two different conditions were studied (Max-Min) that were 800 W for 60 s and 800 W for 90 s, respectively. The degradation patterns of aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2), fumonisins (FB1, FB2, FB3), trichothecenes (T2, HT2, ZEA), and ochratoxin A (OTA) were studied. The extraction procedures were conducted with the QuEChERS extraction, and the analyses were conducted with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that degradation under microwave cooking varies considerably across different food matrices and cooking conditions. This study provides valuable insights into the degradation of mycotoxins during microwave cooking and underscores the need for more research in this area to ensure food safety.

Mechanistic insights into zearalenone-accelerated colorectal cancer in mice using integrative multi-omics approaches

Zearalenone (ZEA), a secondary metabolite of Fusarium fungi found in cereal-based foods, promotes the growth of colon, breast, and prostate cancer cells in vitro. However, the lack of animal studies hinders a deeper mechanistic understanding of the cancer-promoting effects of ZEA. This study aimed to determine the effect of ZEA on colon cancer progression and its underlying mechanisms. Through integrative analyses of transcriptomics, metabolomics, metagenomics, and host phenotypes, we investigated the impact of a 4-week ZEA intervention on colorectal cancer in xenograft mice. Our results showed a twofold increase in tumor weight with the 4-week ZEA intervention. ZEA exposure significantly increased the mRNA and protein levels of BEST4, DGKB, and Ki67 and the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 and AKT. Serum metabolomic analysis revealed that the levels of amino acids, including histidine, arginine, citrulline, and glycine, decreased significantly in the ZEA group. Furthermore, ZEA lowered the alpha diversity of the gut microbiota and reduced the abundance of nine genera, including Tuzzerella and Rikenella. Further association analysis indicated that Tuzzerella was negatively associated with the expression of BEST4 and DGKB genes, serum uric acid levels, and tumor weight. Additionally, circulatory hippuric acid levels positively correlated with tumor weight and the expression of oncogenic genes, including ROBO3, JAK3, and BEST4. Altogether, our results indicated that ZEA promotes colon cancer progression by enhancing the BEST4/AKT/ERK1/2 pathway, lowering circulatory amino acid concentrations, altering gut microbiota composition, and suppressing short chain fatty acids production.