title: Fermented corn flour poisoning in rural areas of China. III. Isolation and identification of main toxin produced by causal microorganisms.
abstract: Flavotoxin A was isolated from Pseudomonas cocovenenans subsp. farinofermentans culture in semisolid potato-dextrose-agar medium, which was isolated from fermented corn meal that had caused food poisoning outbreaks in China. The isolation, purification, and chemical structure of this toxin were studied. The NMR spectra, the uv spectra, and molar extinction coefficients, and the mass spectra of Flavotoxin A are in good agreement with those reported for bongkrekic acid. Therefore, Flavotoxin A and bongkrekic acid are the same organic chemical compound; the molecular formula is C28H38O7. The oral LD50 of the purified Flavotoxin A in mice was 3.16 mg/kg (1.53-6.15 mg/kg). The existence of bongkrekic acid in toxic fermented corn samples collected during food poisoning outbreaks was also confirmed. It is concluded that bongkrekic acid has played an important role in the outbreaks of fermented corn poisoning.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, Beijing.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: X M
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Z H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Meng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000633:toxicity; D001865:Bongkrekic Acid / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002681:China; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005285:Fermentation; D005433:Flour / Q000506:poisoning; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012423:Rural Health; D003313:Zea mays / Q000382:microbiology / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D001865:Bongkrekic Acid