Aflatoxins Impact on health and prevention

The toxicity of aflatoxins stems most probably from their ability to bind to nucleic acids and to interfere with protein synthesis; in addition to the hepatic level these substances act negatively on the immune system and promote the appearance of tumors even in extrahepatic sites (gallbladder, colon, salivary glands, lungs, kidney, rectum, stomach, subcutaneous tissue and bone). Finally, we remember how aflatoxins have a high fetotoxic and teratogenic activity (they are harmful and mutagenic for the fetus).
Currently man has available important weapons in the fight against aflatoxins, ranging from optimization of controls and stages of cultivation, collection and storage (including the choice of resistant hybrids), to the use of transgenic seeds, then genetically manipulated to be less susceptible to Aspergillus infestation.