[Medical relevance of mycotoxins].
There are many mycotoxins with different chemical structures and biological activities. They are present in many food items of vegetable and animal origin as well as in the air. Consequently the exposure of humans to these agents is rather common. In some particular instances the dosage taken up by the body may be considerable. The various biological effects of mycotoxins such as organ toxicity, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, teratogenicity and modulation of the immune system are well documented by in vitro and animal experiments. Furthermore, cases of intoxication by mycotoxins are well known in veterinary medicine. However, the relevance of mycotoxins in human medicine remains largely underestimated, because material from patients with characteristic symptoms is rarely tested for mycotoxins.
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Institut für Medizin, Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Mannheim, Mannheim. herbert.hof@imh.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
D000818:Animals; D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000378:metabolism; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004878:Ergotamine / Q000506:poisoning; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000378:metabolism; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000009:adverse effects
D004967:Estrogens; D009183:Mycotoxins; D037521:Virulence Factors; D004878:Ergotamine