Discovering the Protective Effects of Quercetin on Aflatoxin B1-Induced Toxicity in Bovine Foetal Hepatocyte-Derived Cells (BFH12)

In vitro and in vivo assessment of AFB1 and OTA toxic effects and the beneficial role of bioactive compounds. A systematic review

The purpose of this review was to investigate the current knowledge about aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) toxicity and the possible beneficial role of bioactive compounds by using in vitro and in vivo models. Although AFB1 and OTA were tested in a similar percentage, the majority of studies focused on nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, immune toxicity and neurotoxicity in which oxidative stress, inflammation, structural damage and apoptosis were the main mechanisms of action reported. Conversely, several biological compounds were assayed in order to modulate mycotoxins damage mainly in the liver, brain, kidney and immune system. Among them, pumpkin, curcumin and fermented whey were the most employed. Although a clear progress has been made by using in vivo models, further research is needed to assess not only the toxicity of multiple mycotoxins contamination but also the effect of functional compounds mixture, thereby reproducing more realistic situations for human health risk assessment.

Detoxification of Aflatoxin B1 by Phytochemicals in Agriculture and Food Science

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), the most toxic and harmful mycotoxin, has a high likelihood of occurring in animal feed and human food, which seriously affects agriculture and food safety and endangers animal and human health. Recently, natural plant products have attracted widespread attention due to their low toxicity, high biocompatibility, and simple composition, indicating significant potential for resisting AFB1. The mechanisms by which these phytochemicals resist toxins mainly involve antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic pathways. Moreover, these substances also inhibit the genotoxicity of AFB1 by directly influencing its metabolism in vivo, which contributes to its elimination. Here, we review various phytochemicals that resist AFB1 and their anti-AFB1 mechanisms in different animals, as well as the common characteristics of phytochemicals with anti-AFB1 function. Additionally, the shortcomings of current research and future research directions will be discussed. Overall, this comprehensive summary contributes to the better application of phytochemicals in agriculture and food safety.

Therapeutic detoxification of quercetin for aflatoxin B1-related toxicity: Roles of oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic enzymes

Aflatoxins (AFTs), a type of mycotoxin mainly produced by Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus, could be detected in food, feed, Chinese herbal medicine, grain crops and poses a great threat to public health security. Among them, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most toxic one. Exposure to AFB1 poses various health risks to both humans and animals, including the development of chronic inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. The molecular mechanisms underlying these risks are intricate and dependent on specific contexts. This review primarily focuses on summarizing the protective effects of quercetin, a natural phenolic compound, in mitigating the toxic effects induced by AFB1 in both in vitro experiments and animal models. Additionally, the review explores the molecular mechanisms that underlie these protective effects. Quercetin has been demonstrated to not only have the direct inhibitory action on the production of AFTs from Aspergillus, both also possess potent ameliorative effects against AFB1-induced cytotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and neurotoxicity. These effects are attributed to the inhibition of oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, and inflammatory response. It could also directly target several metabolic enzymes (i.e., CYP3As and GSTA1) to reduce the production of toxic metabolites of AFB1 within cells, then reduce AFB1-induced cytotoxicity. In conclusion, this review highlights quercetin is a promising detoxification agent for AFB1. By advancing our understanding of the protective mechanisms offered by quercetin, we aim to contribute to the development of effective detoxification agents against AFB1, ultimately promoting better health outcomes.

Abdallah M, Chen X, Rajkovic A. Current Knowledge of Individual and Combined Toxicities of Aflatoxin B1 and Fumonisin B1 In Vitro

Mycotoxins are considered the most threating natural contaminants in food. Among these mycotoxins, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) are the most prominent fungal metabolites that represent high food safety risks, due to their widespread co-occurrence in several food commodities, and their profound toxic effects on humans. Considering the ethical and more humane animal research, the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, and refinement) principle has been promoted in the last few years. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the research studies conducted up to date on the toxicological effects that AFB1 and FB1 can induce on human health, through the examination of a selected number of in vitro studies. Although the impact of both toxins, as well as their combination, were investigated in different cell lines, the majority of the work was carried out in hepatic cell lines, especially HepG2, owing to the contaminants' liver toxicity. In all the reviewed studies, AFB1 and FB1 could invoke, after short-term exposure, cell apoptosis, by inducing several pathways (oxidative stress, the mitochondrial pathway, ER stress, the Fas/FasL signaling pathway, and the TNF-α signal pathway). Among these pathways, mitochondria are the primary target of both toxins. The interaction of AFB1 and FB1, whether additive, synergistic, or antagonistic, depends to great extent on FB1/AFB1 ratio. However, it is generally manifested synergistically, via the induction of oxidative stress and mitochondria dysfunction, through the expression of the Bcl-2 family and p53 proteins. Therefore, AFB1 and FB1 mixture may enhance more in vitro toxic effects, and carry a higher significant risk factor, than the individual presence of each toxin.