Exposición a aflatoxina: un problema de salud pública / Exposition to aflatoxin: A public health problem

La aflatoxina, una micotoxina producida por hongos contaminantes, es un potente tóxico hepático y un agente carcinógeno. La exposición a ella en la dieta es de particular importancia en ciertas regiones del Sureste de Asia y de África subsahariana, cuyas poblaciones presentan alta frecuencia de carcinoma hepatocelular y de la mutación en el codón 249 del gen p53; además, tienen alta prevalencia de la infección por el virus de la hepatitis B. Este factor de riesgo es muy importante si se tiene en cuenta que se ha demostrado sinergia entre la infección por dicho virus y la exposición a aflatoxina en la patogénesis del carcinoma hepatocelular. Pocos estudios han explorado la exposición a aflatoxinas en la dieta de la población latinoamericana y se desconoce el papel en ella de esta micotoxina como factor de riesgo para dicho carcinoma. En este artículo se presenta una revisión sobre diversos aspectos de las aflatoxinas, con énfasis en su relación con la infección por el virus de la hepatitis B y con el carcinoma hepatocelular.

Aflatoxin, a mycotoxin produced by pollutant molds, is a potent hepatotoxic and carcinogenic agent. Dietary exposition to it is of particular importance in certain regions of Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Populations in these regions suffer from high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma, and have high frequency of the mutation in the codon 249 of p53 gene; besides, prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is high in those populations. Synergism between infection with HBV and the exposition to this mycotoxin in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma has been demonstrated. Few studies have explored the exposition to aflatoxin in the diet of populations in Latin America, and the role in them of this mycotoxin as a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma is unknown. In this article different aspects of aflatoxin are reviewed with emphasis on its relationship with HBV infection and with such neoplasia.

study of the protective role of dried garlic powder and vitamin C on some toxic effects of aflatoxin B1 in adult albino rats

One of the most important effects of unconditional storage of food and foodstuff is intoxication caused by mycotoxins. Among mycotoxins, aflatoxin B[1] [AFB[1]] which is the most harmful one. In this work, we studied the AFB[1] induced hepatotoxicity and genotoxicity and using of garlic and vitamin C to ameliorate the AFB[1]-induced damage. This study was conducted for 12 weeks on 192 adult albino rats of both sexes, divided into 8 groups, each consisted of 24 rats: group 1 [-ve control group], group II [+ve control group], group III [+ve control group], group IV [garlic group], group V [vitamin C group], group VI [AFB[1] group], group VII [aflatoxin B[1]+garlic] and Group IV [aflatoxin B[1]+ vitamin C]. The first 3 groups were used as control groups and the [-ve] control group "I" used to be compared with other treated groups. After 6 and 12 weeks, 6 rats from each group were anesthetized and blood samples were collected to assess serum aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and serum malondialdehyde, [MDA] levels. Then the rats were sacrificed and liver specimens were obtained to assess the histopathological and immunohistpathological changes using light microscope. After that another 6 rats from each group were used for studying the chromosomal pattern of their bone marrow cells. The results revealed significant histopathological changes in AFB[1] group [VI] when compared with control group [1]. These changes were in form of loss of hepatic architecture, congested central vein, vacuolated cytoplasm, degeneration and necrosis, immunohistopathological changes in form of decreased in the Bcl[2] expression and chromosomal abnormalities in form of chromosomal gaps, breaks, deletions, ring chromosomes, hypoploidy and hyperploidy. These harmful effects were reduced in rats treated by dried garlic powder and vitamin C. It was conlude that AFB[1] caused hepatotoxicity and genotoxicity. Both garlic and vitamin C have significant improvement effects on AFB[1]-induced hepatoxicity and genotoxicity. Effectiveness of vitamin C is better than garlic in protection of liver and bone marrow cells