Q. What is Aflatoxin?

Aflatoxins are the most widely studied of all mycotoxins. Knowledge of their existence dates from 1960, when more than 100,000 turkey died in England after eating peanut meal imported from Africa and South America. From the poisonous feed were isolated Aspergillus flavus and a toxin produced by this organism that was designated aflatoxin (Aspergillus flavus toxin- A-fla-toxin). These compounds are highly substituted coumarins, and at least 18 closely related toxins are known. Aflatoxin B1 is the most important of this large family of compounds and is produced by Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus and A. nominus. The toxicity of the six most potent aflatoxins decreases in the following order: B1>M1>G1>B2>M2≠G2.