Abstract

Ochratoxin-Induced Toxicoses in Humans and Animals: Chemical, Physical, and Biological Approaches

Author(s): George Mchussain

Ochratoxins are fungal secondary metabolites derived from polyketides that can harm the kidneys, suppress the immune system, be teratogenic, or cause cancer.Fungi that produce ochratoxin can contaminate agricultural products during processing, storage, or in the field (preharvest spoilage).Food and feed contamination with ochratoxin poses a serious threat to human and animal health. Reduced ochratoxin levels in agricultural products have been the subject of research into a number of different approaches.There are three primary types of these strategies:decontamination or detoxification of foods contaminated with ochratoxins, inhibition of the gastrointestinal tract’s absorption of consumed ochratoxins, and prevention of ochratoxin contamination.This paper provides an overview of promising approaches to lowering human and animal exposure to ochratoxins