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

| First Page | Prev Page | Next Page | Back to Text |