Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alina Mihalcea, Sonia Amariei
Summary: Crops can be contaminated by fungi producing mycotoxins, with over 400 different mycotoxins described so far. This study evaluates the prevalence of mycotoxins in corn and corn-derived products in Romania. Fumonisins were found to be the most prevalent mycotoxin, while zearalenone had the lowest presence. The levels of these mycotoxins were within the legal limits.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Yadolah Fakhri, Mansour Sarafraz, Amene Nematollahi, Vahid Ranaei, Moussa Soleimani-Ahmadi, Van Nam Thai, Amin Mousavi Khaneghah
Summary: The study analyzed the concentration and prevalence of birds' egg's mycotoxins from different countries, parts of eggs, and types of mycotoxins, indicating that the concentration of mycotoxins in China and Cameroon was higher than in other countries. Monitoring programs to reduce mycotoxins in bird eggs consumed in these countries should be considered.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yongli Ye, Kaimin Wei, Jian Ji, Xiao Ning, Jia-Sheng Wang, Xiulan Sun
Summary: In this study, the toxic effects and mechanisms of individual and combined DON, 3-acetylDON, and 15-acetylDON were analyzed using the Caco-2 cell line. DON showed the highest inhibitory rate on cell viability, followed by 15-acetylDON and 3-acetylDON. Combinations of these mycotoxins exhibited varying effects on Caco-2 cells, including antagonistic, additive, and synergistic effects. Furthermore, the trichothecenes disrupted amino acid metabolism and protein synthesis.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Aldrey Nathalia Ribeiro Correa, Cristiano Dietrich Ferreira
Summary: This article introduces the regulations and maximum tolerated limits for mycotoxins in Brazil, and discusses the findings of recent studies indicating that several grains intended for human consumption in Brazil exceed the mycotoxins limits. The co-occurrence of mycotoxins in different grains grown in Brazil is also addressed.
FOOD REVIEWS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jose A. Gallardo, Sonia Marin, Antonio J. Ramos, German Cano-Sancho, Vicente Sanchis
Summary: Enniatin B (ENNB) is a mycotoxin produced by moulds from the Fusarium genera, and its toxic effects are still not fully understood, therefore a safe reference exposure value has not been established. ENNB is the most prevalent emerging mycotoxin found in cereal-based products, but there is a lack of comprehensive exposure assessment studies. This study aimed to characterize the occurrence of ENNB and estimate the exposure of the Spanish and Catalan populations. The results showed a high occurrence of ENNB in all foodstuffs analyzed, with a strong correlation with deoxynivalenol levels. Children aged one-nine years had the highest exposure. This study highlights the need for further toxicological data and formal risk assessment considering the co-occurrence with deoxynivalenol.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Pawel Skrzydlewski, Magdalena Twaruzek, Jan Grajewski
Summary: Mycotoxins, secondary metabolites of molds, are important to assess for their cytotoxicity, but the evaluation in cell lines lacks the interaction typical for complex organisms.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Guodong Cai, Shuangshuang Liu, Fang Zhong, Jianhong Gu, Yan Yuan, JiaQiao Zhu, Guoqiang Zhu, Zongping Liu, Hui Zou, Jianchun Bian
Summary: The study revealed that ZEA, DON, and ZEA + DON exacerbate spleen damage and inhibit Th2 cell differentiation after Listeria infection. These toxins suppress the differentiation of Th2 cells by affecting the synthesis of IL-4R in CD4+ T cells, indicating impaired immune response to pathogens after mycotoxin poisoning.
TOXICOLOGY AND APPLIED PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Neda Alvarez-Ortega, Karina Caballero-Gallardo, Cristina Juan, Ana Juan-Garcia, Jesus Olivero-Verbel
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic potential of the hydroethanolic extract of Fridericia chica leaves (HEFc) and determine their protective effects against proliferation induced by alpha-zearalenol (alpha-ZEL) and beta-zearalenol (beta-ZEL). The results showed that HEFc had an IC50 of 128, 249, and 602 μg/mL for HepG2, Calu-1, and HEKn cells, respectively. HEFc at 16 μg/mL was able to provide some protection against cytotoxicity induced by high concentrations of beta-ZEL.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Deren Demirel, Ferhat Can Ozkaya, Weaam Ebrahim, Emel Sokullu, Irem Durmaz Sahin
Summary: Cancer is a major cause of death worldwide, and current treatment methods have limitations. This study examined five metabolic compounds from a fungal species and found that Averufanin showed high cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells. Further investigation revealed that Averufanin induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through DNA damage, suggesting its potential as a new therapeutic strategy for breast cancer.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Diana Ramirez Albuquerque, Andrea Patriarca, Virginia Fernandez Pinto
Summary: The influence of a(w) on the biosynthesis of DON and its acetyl derivatives by a strain of Fusarium graminearum s.s. was evaluated, and it was found that a(w), temperature, and incubation time had significant effects on toxin production.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Elena Bernal-Algaba, Marta Pulgarin-Alfaro, Maria Luisa Fernandez-Cruz
Summary: This study investigated the toxicity of fifteen common mycotoxins in fish cell lines, finding that most of the toxins were toxic mainly at the lysosomal level, with a few having significant effects at the mitochondrial level, and low toxicity observed at the plasma membrane level.
Review
Chemistry, Organic
Yujiao Hou, Boyu Jia, Xiaofang Liao, Lizhu Fu, Xin Zhang, Lidong Zhou, Weijun Kong
Summary: This review summarizes the recent advances in nanozyme-based biosensors for the detection of various exogenous contaminants in foods over the past five years. These biosensors, with advantages of robust catalytic activity, simple preparation, and low cost, have greatly accelerated the progress of food safety assay. Future trends and challenges for these biosensors in food industry are critically proposed to ensure the quality and safety of food products.
MINI-REVIEWS IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Barbara Wroblewska, Ewa Kubicka, Ewelina Semenowicz, Anna Ogrodowczyk, Anita Mikolajczyk, Dagmara Zlotkowska
Summary: Barley proteins are similar to wheat proteins and can cause allergic reactions. The 15-kDa fraction (B-FrVI) of barley proteins showed the strongest immune response. In a mouse model, B-FrVI protein significantly enhanced specific immune responses and stimulated lymphocyte proliferation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wan Nur Baitty Wan Mohd Tajuddin, Faridah Abas, Iekhsan Othman, Rakesh Naidu
Summary: Diarylpentanoid (DAP) analog MS13 demonstrates antiproliferative and apoptotic activities in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of NSCLC cells by modulating differentially expressed genes associated with PI3K-AKT, cell cycle-apoptosis, and MAPK pathways.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Applied
Andreas Eisenreich, Bernhard H. Monien, Mario E. Goetz, Thorsten Buhrke, Axel Oberemm, Katharina Schultrich, Klaus Abraham, Albert Braeuning, Bernd Schaefer
Summary: This article summarizes the current knowledge on 3-MCPD and its fatty acid esters (FE), focusing on pending issues related to exposure assessment using biomarkers and the identification of (toxic) metabolites formed after exposure to FE of 3-MCPD and their modes of action.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jiawen Lu, Ying Yang, Elisabeth Varga, Doris Marko, Qiang Yu, Jianhua Xie, Chang Li, Yi Chen
Summary: This study used RNA-Seq to screen the MAPK signaling pathway as one of the crucial pathways for PSG-F-2 pretreatment against AA-induced damage in IEC-6 cells. Western blot and immunofluorescence confirmed the RNA-Seq data, and revealed that PSG-F-2 protects intestinal cells from AA-induced damage through the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. The findings suggest that PSG-F-2 can be used as a daily dietary supplement to protect intestinal cells from thermal processing hazards caused by AA.
MOLECULAR NUTRITION & FOOD RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Lorenzo Pedroni, Jochem Louisse, Ans Punt, Jean Lou C. M. Dorne, Chiara Dall'Asta, Luca Dellafiora
Summary: Safrole, a natural compound, is classified as a possible human carcinogen and has been proven to be genotoxic and carcinogenic to rodents. Despite being banned in many countries, it is still widely present in spices, herbs, and essential oils. In-silico studies using molecular modeling, docking, and molecular dynamics have revealed species-specific differences in the bioactivation of safrole and provided a knowledge-based foundation for further experiments to deepen our understanding of its toxicity.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Octavian Augustin Mihalache, Laura Carbonell-Rozas, Sara Cutroneo, Chiara Dall'Asta
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of mycotoxins in plant-based meat alternatives in Italy. Multiple mycotoxins were found in the analyzed samples, with the contamination levels ranging from 0.2 μg/kg to 66.9 μg/kg. The exposure assessment showed potential health concerns related to alternariol, aflatoxins, and ochratoxin A in certain plant-based meat alternatives.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Maria Mar Aparicio-Muriana, Renato Bruni, Francisco J. Lara, Monsalud del Olmo-Iruela, Maykel Hernandez-Mesa, Ana M. Garcia-Campana, Chiara Dall'Asta, Laura Righetti
Summary: The increased consumption of blue-green algae (BGA)-based dietary supplements has raised concerns about food safety due to cyanotoxin presence. A study employed ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to traveling wave ion mobility spectrometry/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-TWIMS-QTOF) to establish a comprehensive database for phycotoxins. Cyanotoxins were confidently identified in commercial BGA dietary supplements based on retention time, m/z, and collision cross section values.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Octavian Augustin Mihalache, Chiara Dall'Asta
Summary: This study discusses the challenges in dietary exposure in chemical risk assessment, particularly due to the high percentage of left-censored data. The findings show that commonly used analytical methods can lead to an overestimation of human risk, resulting in economic implications on agricultural trades.
TRENDS IN FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Giuseppe Sammarco, Chiara Dall'Asta, Michele Suman
Summary: This study examines the use of NIR spectroscopy for assessing the geographical origin of Italian hazelnuts. It shows promising results in detecting false origin declarations in fresh, roasted, and paste hazelnuts, especially in relation to popular Italian varieties. The technology proves to be rapid, direct, non-destructive, and cost-effective, suggesting its strategic role in preventing and fighting illegal activities.
VIBRATIONAL SPECTROSCOPY
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
Maria Agustina Pavicich, Marthe De Boevre, Arnau Vidal, Hannes Mikula, Benedikt Warth, Doris Marko, Sarah De Saeger, Andrea Patriarca
Summary: Data on the occurrence of Alternaria mycotoxins in apple by-products in Argentina is lacking and the risk of exposure to these mycotoxins has not been characterized before. The levels of various mycotoxins were determined in apple juices, marmalades, and apple-based infant food, and the highest risk of exposure was found in children consuming apple infant food. Better control strategies and legislation for Alternaria mycotoxins are needed in Argentina.
EXPOSURE AND HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Lorenzo Pedroni, Florinda Perugino, Ambra Kurtaga, Gianni Galaverna, Chiara Dall'Asta, Luca Dellafiora
Summary: The bitter taste perception plays a crucial role in quickly detecting and avoiding potential toxic compounds in humans and animals. Through computational approaches, this study revealed the interaction between food-related toxic compounds and TAS2R46. The findings suggested that deoxynivalenol and its 15-acetylated derivative can activate TAS2R46, providing initial evidence for the involvement of TAS2R46 in the mechanism of deoxynivalenol action and emphasizing the importance of further investigating TAS2R46 and TAS2Rs in the adverse effects of deoxynivalenol and its congeners.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Laura Carbonell-Rozas, Arianna Alabrese, Raffaele Meloni, Laura Righetti, Massimo Blandino, Chiara Dall'Asta
Summary: Ergot alkaloids (EAs) were found to be widely present in major and minor cereals in the Mediterranean growing areas, especially under favorable weather conditions. The contamination of EAs was influenced by the harvest year, with 2020 showing the highest levels of contamination. There was a significant co-occurrence of EAs in the cereal samples, with 60% of the samples being contaminated. Rye was the most susceptible crop to fungal infection, while the accumulation of EAs in tritordeum and emmer was reported for the first time.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Giuseppe Sammarco, Chiara Dall'Asta, Michele Suman
Summary: Geographical provenience is important for the authenticity and quality of food products. In this study, a combination of UHPLC-HRMS analysis and multivariate statistical analysis was used to identify key compounds for distinguishing between Italian and non-Italian dehydrated apple samples. A total of 91 samples from 2020 and 2021 harvests, with different dehydration rates, peel/no peel, and apple varieties, were analyzed. The results highlight the potential of UHPLC-HRMS technology as a confirmatory strategy for assessing the geographical origin of dehydrated apple commodities.
JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Eleonora Rollo, Dante Catellani, Chiara Dall'Asta, Michele Suman
Summary: In recent years, there has been a growing interest in toxic plant alkaloids as food contaminants in the EU due to the increasing consumption of plant-based foods. The European Food Safety Authority has highlighted the need to develop risk assessment strategies and accurate analytical methods for detecting these tropane alkaloids (TAs) and pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). This study aims to develop and validate an analytical method using QuEChERS sample preparation approach and UHPLC coupled to HRMS to identify and quantify TAs and PAs in cereals and spices.
JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Laura Carbonell-Rozas, Federico Ferrari, Laura Righetti, Chiara Dall'Asta
Summary: Impressive advancements have been reported in mycotoxin analysis, but little attention has been paid to aligning the sample treatment with green sample preparation principles. This work proposes the use of a natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) for the extraction of mycotoxins in food samples, employing dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) and DLLME with solidification of floating organic drop (DLLME-SFO) methodologies. The greenness of both methods was compared using the AGREEprep metric tool, with the DLLME-SFO method achieving a higher greenness score. The validated DLLME-SFO-HPLC-MS/MS method showed satisfactory linearity, low limits of detection and quantification, and high recoveries for the studied mycotoxins in apple juice and puree samples.
MICROCHEMICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Martina Cirlini, Laura Righetti, Lorenzo Del Vecchio, Elena Tonni, Luigi Lucini, Chiara Dall'Asta, Gianni Galaverna
Summary: Meat quality is influenced by animal feeding and various studies have shown that incorporating antioxidant components in animal feed can improve meat quality. In this study, an in vitro digestion protocol was applied to pork muscles obtained from pigs fed different diets. The results showed that the addition of linseeds and polyphenols in the animal diet reduced the metabolites generated from oxidative degradation reactions and improved meat quality.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Octavian Augustin Mihalache, Marthe De Boevre, Luca Dellafiora, Sarah De Saeger, Antonio Moretti, Laetitia Pinson-Gadais, Nadia Ponts, Florence Richard-Forget, Antonia Susca, Chiara Dall'Asta
Summary: This systematic review aims to update the knowledge on the occurrence and co-occurrence of non-regulated mycotoxins, while also providing an overview of current regulations. The study found 15 non-regulated mycotoxins in 19 food categories worldwide, with 38 different combinations of these mycotoxins. The authors emphasize the importance of continuous monitoring, scientific exchange, and generation of high-quality data to effectively address concerns related to non-regulated mycotoxin toxicity. Additionally, obtaining more data concerning the co-occurrence of regulated and non-regulated mycotoxins could support multiple chemical risk assessment methodologies.
Article
Mycology
Dino Grgic, Barbara Novak, Elisabeth Varga, Doris Marko
Summary: Risk assessment relies mainly on toxicological data of individual substances, lacking information on combined effects. Recent experiments reveal interactive effects of phyto- and mycoestrogens. However, there are limitations and artifacts in the current testing methods for evaluating substance combinations.
MYCOTOXIN RESEARCH
(2023)
