Toxicity of fumonisine

Humpf, H. U. and Voss, K. A. (2004). Effects of thermal food processing on the chemical structure and toxicity of fumonisin mycotoxins. Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 48(4), 255-269. 

Soriano JM, Gonzalez L, Catala AI. Mechanism of action of sphingolipids and their metabolites in the toxicity of fumonisin Bl. Prog. Lipid Res. 2005 44 345-356. 

Toxicity of fumonisins is caused by inhibition of the enzyme sphingosine N-acetyltransferase (ceramide synthase) due to the structural similarity of fumonisins with sphingosine (see Section 3.5.1.1.3). The toxic effects are closely related to the presence of the amino group in the molecule of fumonisin the reaction products with reducing sugars are virtually non-toxic as the amino group is blocked. Fumonisin B2 is more cytotoxic than fumonisin Bp... 

Abdel-Wahhab M A, Hassan A M, Armer H A and Naguib K M (2004), Prevention of fumonisin-induced maternal and developmental toxicity in rats by certain plant extracts , J. Appl. Toxicol., 24 (6), 469-474. 

Piva, A., Casadei, G., Pagliuca, G., Cabassi, E., Galvano, F., Solfrizzo, M., Riley, R. T., and Diaz, D. E. (2005). Activated carbon does not prevent the toxicity of culture material containing fumonisin B1 when fed to weanling piglets. ]. Anim. Sci. 83(8), 1939-1947. 

Norred WP, Voss KA Toxicity and role of fumonisins in animal diseases and human esophageal cancer. J Food Prot 1994 57 522-527. 

Fumonisin Bi (FBi) is the most prevalent fumonisin in contaminated food and is believed to be the most toxic to afflicted animals. Though a variety of adverse effects have been observed in livestock, there is currently no direct evidence of the effects of fumonisins on hiunans. Some inconclusive observations show that fumonisins could be carcinogenic. Fiunonisins are associated mainly with corn products [6j. 

Another group of toxins called the AAL-toxins was fotmd to have a structural relationship to the fumonisins, since they have only one tricarboxylic acid (TCA) moiety. AAL-toxin TAi (265) and TA2 (266) (Fig. 5.2) are produced by the fungus Alternaria alternata f. sp. lycopersici and can lead to phytotoxic effects on several crops such as tomatoes and weeds (200). Due to the toxic effects of long alkyl-chain pyridinium compounds, this new class of fumonisins is of high interest (201). 

Haschek WM, Motelin G, Ness DK, Harlin KS, Hall WF, Vesonder RF, Peterson RE, Beasley VR (1992) Characterization of Fumonisin Toxicity in Orally and Intravenously Dosed Swine. Mycopathologia 117 83... 

Fumonisins are recently discovered mycotoxins which cause leukoencephalomalacia in horses and pulmonary edema in swine (9). The toxicity of the fumonisins is currently being assessed. The fumonisins are analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or TLC. 

The assessment of dietary risk of exposure to fumonisins is relatively complicated with regard to a variety of individual mycotoxins. In some types of maize products, fumonisins that are not currently monitored may significantly contribute to the toxic effects. Fumonisins cause a number of livestock diseases, such as mycotoxicosis known as Equine LEucoencephaloMalasia (ELEM) in horses or Porcine Pulmonary oEdema (PPE) in pigs. Intoxication by higher doses of mycotoxins can be fatal in both cases. In connection with the possible occurrence of fumonisins in foods, their hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity to humans and carcinogenicity demonstrated... 

Swine receiving dosages of fumonisins below the pulmonary toxic level develop icterus, reduced feed intake, weight loss, and, occasionally, diarrhea. 

Lebepe-Mazur, S.M. 1993. Production of fumonisin B, by Fusarium proliferatum in liquid culture medium, and the toxicity and metabolism of fumonisin Bj in rats. Ph.D. Thesis, Iowa State University, Ames, lA. 

Shier, W.T., Abbas, H.K., and Mirocha, C.J. 1991. Toxicity of the mycotoxins fumonisins B, and B2 and Alternaria alternata f sp. lycopersici toxin in cultured mammalian cells. Mycopathologia 116 97-104. 

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