Food Toxicology 2(2+0)

Lesson 15 : Fungal Mycotoxins

Penicillia mycotoxins

Ochratoxin

• Legumes / cereal products in South Africa
• Aspergillus ochraceus
• Widespread in the nature soil, decaying vegetation, stored cereal, corn feed.
• Type A is the most potent of these toxins. : C20H18ClNO6 169OC
• LD50 20 mg/kg body weight, rat/ orally
• Affect liver/ kidneys
• Cause fatty vacuolation (more fat in the liver), swelling of mitochondria
• Necrosis in kidneys
  
• Noncarcinogenic
• Type B. C20H19NO6 221OC less toxic

Penicillium notatum is the organism responsible for the highly used antibiotic pencillium, which effectively blocks the synthesis of bacterial cell walls.