U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
NCBI/NLM/NIH Glossary
- aflatoxin b1
- 6aR-cis-2,3,6aalpha,9aalpha-Tetrahydro-4-methoxycyclopenta(c)furo(3',2':4,5)furo(2,3-h)(1)benzopyran-1,11-dione.
The compound is a potent hepatotoxic and hepatocarcinogenic mycotoxin produced by the
Aspergillus flavus group of fungi. It is also mutagenic, teratogenic, and causes
immunosuppression in animals. It is found as a contaminant in peanuts, cottonseed meal,
corn, and other grains. The mycotoxin requires epoxidation to aflatoxin B1-2,3-oxide for
activation. Microsomal monooxygenases biotransform the toxin to the less toxic metabolites
aflatoxin M1 and Q1
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