Some relevant mitigating agents of chronic aflatoxin exposure: a treatise

Abstract

Aflatoxins, a group of toxic secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus species, pose significant threats to human health due to their potent carcinogenic, mutagenic, and immunosuppressive properties. Chronic exposure to these contaminants, commonly found in staple foods such as maize and groundnuts, has been linked to an increased risk of liver cancer, growth impairment, and immune dysfunction. Several agents, such as calcium montmorillonite clay and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, have shown promise in reducing aflatoxin bioavailability and alleviating its toxic effects. Additionally, dietary supplements such as chlorophyllin, selenium, and N-acetylcysteine have demonstrated potential as adjuvants to counteract aflatoxin-induced oxidative stress and support liver function. In this treatise, some of the most discussed approaches to mitigating aflatoxin effects are explored in terms of their efficacy, safety, and potential mechanisms of action, which include direct aflatoxin binding, detoxification, cellular antioxidative, and hepatocellular protection properties. However, the effectiveness of these strategies can be influenced by various factors, such as dose, duration of exposure, and individual susceptibility. Therefore, further research is needed to optimize these interventions and develop new, targeted therapies for the prevention and treatment of aflatoxin-related diseases. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of 18 pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, supplement, and probiotic strategies currently available for mitigating the deleterious effects of chronic aflatoxin exposure in humans and animal models.

Keywords:

• Aflatoxin
• carcinogen
• probiotics
• hepatoprotective
• Aspergillus parasiticus

Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely thank the toxicology research center of AJA university of medical sciences for the scientific and logistic support.

Author contributions

M.N. contributed in the writing and revise, data gathering and graphical design, R.H. contributed in the manuscript revision and data gathering, Z.H. and M.S. contributed in the writing, E.N. and M.C. had the role of supervision and guidance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

All data and materials are available upon request.