THE PRESENCE OF FUSARIUM MYCOTOXINS IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND ITS EFFECTS ON HUMAN HEALTH

THE PRESENCE OF FUSARIUM MYCOTOXINS IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND ITS EFFECTS ON HUMAN HEALTH

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites that are produced by fungus types such as Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicilium and Alternaria spp. and cause mycotoxicosis as acute and chronically in human and animals with ingestion to body. It is one of the most important danger factors especially in agricultural food and feed that threatens human and animal health. In this scope it is one of the problems that has to be taken under control in terms of providing food security and protection of human health. Some studies show that ingestion of fungal components to body causes various problems from acute deaths to chronical diseases as a result of negative exposure of animal health and degradation of resistence towards pathogens. Some studies also show that mycotoxins in human cause vomitting, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems as well as having carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic and neurotoxic potential. Mycotoxins that can be seen in agricultural products grown in our country such as hazelnut, peanut, pistachio, fig, raisin and red pepper grown can pose a danger in terms of society health and economy of country. The most important mycotoxins produced by Fusarium type molds that can grow in many agricultural products as corn and cereals being in the first place are Trichothecenes (Deoxynivalenol, Nivalenol, T-2 and HT-2 Toxins), Zearalenone, Fumonisins and Moniliformin and also in this review Fusarium toxins that can grow in agricultural products and their effects on health will be examined with related literature.  

___

  • Funda ZEYTUN, Hilal YILDIZ, Yeşim DAŞDEMİR
  • Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University, Turkey