Masked Mycotoxins of Deoxynivalenol and Zearalenone – Unpredicted Toxicity

Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research , vol.29, no.2, pp.22288-22293, 2020 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungal species. Detoxification

processes of plants which are infected with the toxigenic fungi are responsible for

the conversion of them to mycotoxin derivatives, called masked mycotoxins. Masked

mycotoxins are less toxic metabolites for plants according to their free forms. Both of

these metabolites have toxic effects on animals and humans. Masked mycotoxins are

hydrolyzed into their free forms by human and animal intestinal microbiomes. Here,

we reviewed the unforeseen toxicity of masked trichothecenes, especially focused on

deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN), which are classified as major mycotoxins

of Fusarium species.