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Occurrence, Health Implications, and Management of Aflatoxin in Cereal: A Current Review

Article

Last updated: 01 Jan 2025

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Tags

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Abstract

Cereals are consumed globally because of their nutritional values and potential to reduce malnutrition. In spite of their usefulness, cereals are prone to aflatoxin contamination. Aflatoxins are highly toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolic products that contaminate agricultural products consumed by humans. Studies have shown that aflatoxin is found in cereals at a high level. Human exposure to aflatoxin through food and feed results in a wide range of health issues, including a weakened immune system and cancer. Worst, it can cause death depending on the level and extent of exposure. Several climate-induced factors, such as drought, can trigger aflatoxin production worldwide, especially in Africa, where the environment is conducive. Several precautions have been taken to mitigate human exposure to aflatoxin, including strict regulations, pre- and post-harvest contamination prevention, detoxification, and decontamination. In addition, good farm management and practices, and awareness creation and education can help to reduce aflatoxin contamination and exposure, if not eradicate it. The current review detailed the up-to-date information on aflatoxin occurrence, health implications, and control measures for aflatoxin in cereals to ensure food safety and human well-being. This review also illuminated the potential hazards of human exposure to aflatoxin beyond the permissible level, particularly in children.

DOI

10.21608/ejbo.2023.196133.2265

Keywords

Aspergillus spp, Carcinogenic, Food Contamination, Health complications, Aflatoxins

Authors

First Name

Noraziyah

Last Name

Abd Aziz Shamsudin

MiddleName

binti

Affiliation

Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Email

nora_aziz@ukm.edu.my

City

Telok Panglima Garang

Orcid

-

First Name

Yusuf

Last Name

Oyebamiji

MiddleName

Opeyemi

Affiliation

Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Email

yusufopeyemi420@gmail.com

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

ISMAIL

Last Name

ADEBAYO

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Microbiology and Immunology Department, School of Medicine, Kabale University, Kabale, Uganda

Email

ibnahmad507@gmail.com

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Olayinka

Last Name

Umar

MiddleName

Bolaji

Affiliation

Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

Email

olayinka.bu@unilorin.edu.ng

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Nurul Aqilah

Last Name

Mohd Zaini

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Food Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Email

nurulaqilah@ukm.edu.my

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Mohd Nazri

Last Name

Ismail

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Analytical Biochemistry Research Centre, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), 11800, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Email

mdnazri@usm.my

City

-

Orcid

-

Volume

64

Article Issue

4

Related Issue

50599

Issue Date

2024-12-01

Receive Date

2023-02-26

Publish Date

2024-12-01

Page Start

1

Page End

15

Print ISSN

0375-9237

Online ISSN

2357-0350

Link

https://ejbo.journals.ekb.eg/article_382252.html

Detail API

https://ejbo.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=382252

Order

1

Type

Special Issue (Review)

Type Code

1,042

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Egyptian Journal of Botany

Publication Link

https://ejbo.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Occurrence, Health Implications, and Management of Aflatoxin in Cereal: A Current Review

Details

Type

Article

Created At

30 Dec 2024