OBJECTIVETo study the combined toxic effects of fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) and aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) on Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.

METHODAll 60 SD male rats were divided into five groups randomly according to the body weight (12 every group). They were given FB(1) (100 microg/kg bw), AFB(1) (100 microg/kg bw), FB(1) plus AFB(1) (100 microg/kg bw respectively), FB(1) plus AFB(1) (50 microg/kg bw respectively) and distilled water respectively by gavage. The experiment persisted 30 days to observe the changes of growth and development, the food used rate, the haematological indexes, the blood biochemical indexes and the viscera histopathology.

RESULTSAt the end of the experiment, the mean body weight increased in the FB(1) plus AFB(1) (100 microg/kg bw respectively) group was (164.9 +/- 19.8) g and the mean body weight increased in the control group was (203.7 +/- 17.1) g. And the food used rate in the FB(1) plus AFB(1) (100 microg/kg bw respectively) group was (25.3 +/- 1.6)% and the food used rate in the control group was (28.1 +/- 1.2)%. There were significant differences in the mean body weight increased and the food used rate between the FB(1) plus AFB(1) (100 microg/kg bw respectively) group and the control group (P < 0.05). While there were no significant differences of body weights and food used rates between controls and AFB(1), FB(1), and low dose AFB(1) + FB(1) groups (P > 0.05). The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutaminetransferase (gamma-GT) in serum of all of the treatment groups were increased, but the increasing extent was severe in the AFB(1) + FB(1) high dose group. At the same time the liver weight and kidney weight were decreased and the liver occurred with the remarkable histopathological lesions in the AFB(1) + FB(1) high dose group. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in serum was decreased and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum was elevated in treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe combined toxic effects of AFB(1) and FB(1) existed in male SD rats. Our results provided the basic data for studying the combined effects on human exposed to these two mycotoxin at the same time.

Aflatoxin B1 ; toxicity ; Animals ; Fumonisins ; toxicity ; Male ; Mycotoxins ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Toxicity Tests

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a carcinogenic mycotoxin found in commodities such as corn and corn-originated products. An aptamer-based method for detection of FB1 was developed using the fluorescent dye PicoGreen, which can recognize and bind double-stranded DNA. A peak fluorescence of PicoGreen was obtained in 15 min in the presence of FB1 aptamer, which formed a double-stranded hybridizer DNA with its complementary strand. The excitation and emission wavelengths for PicoGreen detection were 480 nm and 520 nm, respectively. The sensitivity of this aptamer/PicoGreen-based method was 0.1 μg/L. This method showed a good linearity for FB1 concentration ranging from 0.1 to 1 μg/L. The entire detection procedure for FB1 could be completed within 40 min. No cross reactions were observed with any other mycotoxins against aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A, citrinin and zearalenone, demonstrating high specificity towards FB1 aptamer. Agreement between commercial, antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit and aptamer method was excellent with a kappa value of 0.857. Taken together, this aptamer/PicoGreen-based method is more cost-effective, time-saving and useful than ELISA for detection of FB1.
Aflatoxin B1 ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fluorescence ; Fluorescent Dyes ; chemistry ; Fumonisins ; analysis ; Mycotoxins ; analysis ; Ochratoxins ; Organic Chemicals ; chemistry ; Staining and Labeling ; Zea mays

A rapid and sensitive analytical method was developed for the simultaneous determination of fumonisins B1 and B2 in traditional Chinese medicines by HPLC-MS/MS. The detection limits for fumonisins B1 and B2 were 0.25 ng x mL(-1) corresponding to 2 microg x kg(-1) in samples. Recoveries from different samples spiked with fumonisins B1 and B2 at levels ranging from 0.2 to 3 mg x kg(-1) were 84.0%-96.1% and 86.3%-99.3%, respectively. Among the total of 34 samples purchased from local markets, ten samples of which were visibly moldy samples due to inappropriate storage, and 24 were normal samples. The results showed that 6 of the visibly moldy samples and 5 of the normal samples were contaminated with total fumonisins at levels ranging 82.4-2349 microg x kg(-1) and 102-729 microg x kg(-1), respectively.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Contamination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fumonisins ; analysis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between fumonisin biosynthesis gene and toxicity of Fusarium moniliforme isolated in China.

METHODSThe toxigenic gene of 29 Fusarium moniliforme isolated from different provinces and varied food samples were determined. Eighteen fum5-positive strains were selected for biosyhesizing fumonisin and determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

RESULTSTwenty-six isolates were identified as fum5 gene positive strains. And all of these strains produced FB(1), FB(2) and FB(3). The amount of FB(1), FB(2) and FB(3) was ranging from 0.41-140.20 mg/kg, 0.06-14.30 mg/kg to 0.30-58.00 mg/kg, except one strain produced a lower level of FB(1) only. It wight be the first report showing a high level fumonisin-producing strain isolated from the sesame sample and identified in the world. The amount of FB(1), FB(2) and FB(3) produced by the isolate was 128.84 mg/kg, 11.80 mg/kg and 14.88 mg/kg.

CONCLUSIONSIt should have a close relationship between fumonisins biosynthesis gene and toxicity of Fusarium moniliforme isolated in China. The study demonstrated that strain of Fusarium moniliforme might contaminate the sesame sample and produce a high level of fumonisins.

China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Food Contamination ; analysis ; prevention & control ; Fumonisins ; analysis ; metabolism ; Fungal Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fusarium ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Sesamum ; microbiology

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of silymarin on experimental liver toxication induced by Fumonisin B1 (FB1) in BALB/c mice. The mice were divided into six groups (n = 15). Group 1 served as the control. Group 2 was the silymarin control (100 mg/kg by gavage). Groups 3 and 4 were treated with FB1 (Group 3, 1.5 mg/kg FB1, intraperitoneally; and Group 4, 4.5 mg/kg FB1). Group 5 received FB1 (1.5 mg/kg) and silymarin (100 mg/kg), and Group 6 was given a higher dose of FB1 (4.5 mg/kg FB1) with silymarin (100 mg/kg). Silymarin treatment significantly decreased (p < 0.0001) the apoptotic rate. FB1 administration significantly increased (p < 0.0001) proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Ki-67 expression. Furthermore, FB1 elevated the levels of caspase-8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha mediators while silymarin significantly reduced (p < 0.0001) the expression of these factors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) expressions were significantly elevated in Group 4 (p < 0.0001). Silymarin administration alleviated increased VEGF and FGF-2 expression levels (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, silymarin ameliorated toxic liver damage caused by FB1 in BALB/c mice.
Animals ; Antioxidants/*pharmacology ; Apoptosis/drug effects ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2/genetics/metabolism ; Fumonisins/*toxicity ; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects ; Hepatocytes/*drug effects ; Ki-67 Antigen/metabolism ; Liver/drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mycotoxins/*toxicity ; Neovascularization, Physiologic/drug effects ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/metabolism ; Silymarin/*pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/genetics/metabolism