FUMONISINS - PROPERTIES, SOURCES AND TOXI CITY

Fumonisins are toxic metabolites of the fungus Fusarium moniliforme, w hich is a worlwide contaminant of corn. Since the occurence of the fun gus and toxins are often symptomeless and fumonisins are heat-stable, they are frequently found in corn, corn-based animal feed, and commerc ial corn-based foods. Among the seven fumonisins isolated, fumonisin B 1 is the most abundant. Though experimentally induced mycotoxicosis ar e varied, equine leukoencephalomalacia and porcine pulmonary edema are the best characterized in farm animals, in rats, fumonisin B1 causes liver cancer. In humans, fumonisins exposure may be implicated in esop hageal cancer and atherosclerotic plaques formation. These mycotoxins are structurally related to sphingosine, and may exert their biologica l activity through their ability to block enzymes involved in sphingol ipid biosynthesis. However, much more research is needed to define the role of sphingolipid disruption in the diseases, and fumonisins total acceptable daily intake in animals and humans.