Aflatoxin B1 (Synonyms: AFB1, HSDB 3453, NSC 529592)

Aflatoxin B1, as a class of carcinogenic mycotoxins produced by Aspergillus fungi, always lead to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in humans and animals.^[1] Aflatoxin B1's toxicity includes acute toxicity, teratogenicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. Moreover, DNA adduction, inflammation and oxidative stress caused by Aflatoxin B1 can also participate in the occurrence of cancer.^[2]

In vitro, AFB1 has inhibition against cell viability of Hek293 cells with IC50 of 32.60 µM.^[3] In vitro experiment it shown that with 0, 10, 50, and 100 µM AFB1, maturation of oocytes was performed. At concentrations of 50 and 100 µM AFB1, the number of oocytes reaching the metaphase II stage reduced and the oocytes presented with lower intracellular levels of GSH. And intracellular ROS production in matured oocytes also reached the highest-level.^[4]

In vivo test it shown that treatment with 5 mg/kg Aflatoxin B1 intraperitoneally in chicks markedly boost ALT and AST levels (indicators of liver damage).^[5] In vivo efficacy test it exhibited that Aflatoxin B1 impairs animal performance following a subacute or chronic exposure, the LD50 values vary from 0.3 mg/kg body weight in ducklings to 9.0 mg/kg body weight in mice and up to 17.9 mg/kg body weight in female rats. ^[6] Pregnant mice were treated with a high dose of 20 mg/kg Aflatoxin B1 intraperitoneally, there has peak absorption in blood after 15 min, which was delayed to 30 min after oral ingestion, suggesting aflatoxin's uptake from the proximal intestine was very rapid. ^[7] In vivo, at a high-dose 75 µg/kg, Aflatoxin B1 significantly shown an over 70% reduction in the levels of fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Moreover, Rats were treated with 25 µg/kg Aflatoxin B1 orally caused a remarkable elevations of fecal cholic acid (2.18-fold), linoleic acid (cis-9, cis-12-18:2) (11.3-fold), pentadecanoic acid (15: 0) (3.68-fold), pyruvic acid (4.56-fold), and 3-phenyllactic acid (3.74-fold).^[8]

References:
[1] Rushing BR, Selim MI. Aflatoxin B1: A review on metabolism, toxicity, occurrence in food, occupational exposure, and detoxification methods. Food Chem Toxicol. 2019 Feb;124:81-100.
[2] Cao W, et al. Aflatoxin B1: metabolism, toxicology, and its involvement in oxidative stress and cancer development. Toxicol Mech Methods. 2022 Jul;32(6):395-419.
[3] Dlamini NZ, et al. Toxicogenicity and mechanistic pathways of aflatoxin B1 induced renal injury. Environ Toxicol. 2021 Sep;36(9):1857-1872.
[4] Hajarizadeh A, et al. Aflatoxin B1 impairs in vitro early developmental competence of ovine oocytes. Theriogenology. 2022 Apr 15;183:53-60.
[5] Gao X, et al. Morin alleviates aflatoxin B1-induced liver and kidney injury by inhibiting heterophil extracellular traps release, oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in chicks. Poult Sci. 2021 Dec;100(12):101513.
[6] Agag B. Mycotoxins in foods and feeds: 1-aflatoxins. Ass. Univ. Bull. Environ. Res. 2004;7:173–205.
[7] Bastaki S.A., et al. Toxicokinetics of Aflatoxin in Pregnant Mice. Int. J. Toxicol. 2010;29:425–431.
[8] Zhou J, et al. Aflatoxin B1 Disrupts Gut-Microbial Metabolisms of Short-Chain Fatty Acids, Long-Chain Fatty Acids, and Bile Acids in Male F344 Rats. Toxicol Sci. 2018 Aug 1;164(2):453-464.