Fumonisin B1

Fumonisin B1 is the most prevalent member of a family of toxins. It is hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic in all animal species. It occupies the space and electrostatic interactions of both sphinganine and fatty acyl-CoA (1). Due to this mechanism of action, it has toxic effects in humans such as neural tube defects (2), esophageal cancer, acute mycotoxicosis, and various other carcinogenic effects. Another effect of exposure to FB1 is apoptosis (2).

1. European commission (2007). “Fumonisin B1”. Opinion of the scientific committee on food on Fusarium toxins (27). 2. Stockmann-Juvalla H., and Savolainen K. (2008) Human and Exp. Toxicology. 27: 799-809.