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Alfatoxin's Impact on Health

Alfatoxins are toxins produced by fungus species Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus that can contaminate foods like maize, rice, peanuts and spices. When humans consume alfatoxin contaminated foods, it can negatively impact multiple organs and systems. The liver is particularly affected, with possible outcomes including liver damage, cancer and immunosuppression. Prevention strategies focus on removing contamination sources and promoting better agricultural and storage practices to reduce human exposure to the toxic effects of alfatoxins.

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Alina Gabriela Saveschi
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52 views12 pages

Alfatoxin's Impact on Health

Alfatoxins are toxins produced by fungus species Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus that can contaminate foods like maize, rice, peanuts and spices. When humans consume alfatoxin contaminated foods, it can negatively impact multiple organs and systems. The liver is particularly affected, with possible outcomes including liver damage, cancer and immunosuppression. Prevention strategies focus on removing contamination sources and promoting better agricultural and storage practices to reduce human exposure to the toxic effects of alfatoxins.

Uploaded by

Alina Gabriela Saveschi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ALFATOXIN

EFFECT ON
HEALTH

STUDENT MASTERAND:
SAVESCHI ALINA GABRIELA
WHAT IS ‘TOXIN’
 A toxin (from Ancient Greek: toxikon) is
a poisonous substance produced within
living cells or organisms
 It simply means, it is a biologically
produced poison.
 Alfatoxins are naturally
occurring toxins that are
produced by species of a fungus
called Aspergillus.
 Types: Aspergillus flavus and
Aspergillus parasiticus.
WHEN IS THE TOXIN PRODUCED

 The toxins are produced as secondary


metabolites by the fungi temperatures
range between 24 and 350 C, within many
commodities whenever the moisture
content exceeds 7% (10% with
ventilation).
ALFATOXIN PRONE
AFRICAN DIETARY
STAPLES
 Maize
 Rice
 Corn
 Nuts
 Peanuts
 Chilies
 Spices
HOW DOES THE  APOPTOSIS  CELL DEATH
TOXIN ACT?  INHIBITS OF NUCLEIC ACID (DNA –
RNA) SYNTHESIS  MUTATION 
CANCER
 DECREASAE PROTEIN SYNTHESIS
 STUNTING
 AFFECTS MEMBRANE STABILITY 
CELL DAMAGE
ALFATOXIN EFFECT ON HUMAN HEALTH

ORGANS/SYSTE EFFECTS
MS
PATHOLOGICAL LIVER, KIDNEY, AND SPLEEN ENLARGEMENT, FATTY
CHANGES LIVER SYNDROME
URINARY KIDNEY INFLAMMATION LEADING TO KIDNEY FAILURE
SYSTEM
DIGESTIVE DECREASED PROTEIN AND FATS DIGESTION AND
SYSTEM ABSORPTIONS, IMPAIRED CARBOHYDRATE BREAKDOWN,
DECRESED MOTILITY, DIARRHEA
ALFATOXIN EFFECT ON HUMAN HEALTH

ORGANS/SYSTE EFFECTS
MS
NERVOUS ABNORMINAL BEHAVIOR, DEPRESSION
SYSTEM
REPRODUCTIVE REDUCED SPERM COUNT AND INFERTILITY; NEONATAL
SYSTEM OUTCOMES-LOW BIRTH WEIGHT
GROWTH RECENT HUMAN RESEARCH CONFIRMS THAT DIETARY
ALFATOXIN REDUCES THE RATE OF GROWTH
ALFATOXIN EFFECT ON HUMAN HEALTH

ORGANS/SYSTE EFFECTS
MS
GENE AND GENE TERATOGENIC EFFECT (BIRTH DEFECT)
EXPRESSION
GENE AND GENE CARCINOGENIC EFFECT – HIGHER INCIDENCE OF CANCER
SUPPRESSION
IMMUNOSUPPRES DECREASED RESISTANCE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY TO HIV
SION AND OTHER OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS
THE PRINCIPAL
TARGET
ORGAN FOR
ALFATOXINS IS
THE LIVER
PREVENTION

Remove the sources

Promotes better agricultural and storage techniques

Have good resources for testing and early diagnosis

Strict food quality standards

General awarness and personal protection


THANK YOU!

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