Biological and Histopathological Evaluations of Using Ozone Gas in Decontamination of AflatoxinB1 in Wheat Grains

A variety of moulds routinely infect the world’s cereal crops. Under certain field or storage conditions, some moulds can produce toxin metabolites “mycotoxins“. Aflatoxins (AFs) are a group of highly carcinogenic mycotoxins produced primarily by the fungus Aspergillus flavus. Within the group of AFs, Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) have been reported to be carcinogenic, teratogenic, tremorgenic, and dermatitic to a wide range of organisms, and known to cause hepatic carcinoma in humans [1] AFB1 is the most potent of the four naturally occurring AFs because of its remarkable Hepatotoxicity and carcinogenicity, this feed contaminant has been the focus of considerable research since its discovery. AFB1 is the most potent carcinogenic substance naturally produced by Aspergillus species. AFB1 is classified by the International Agency of Research on Cancer as Group1 human carcinogen [2]. AFB1 has been linked to a specific G to T transversion in the codon 249 in the p53 tumor suppressor gene in primary human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [3]. The liver is generally the primary target organ and liver damage has been demonstrated in poultry, fish, rodents and non-human primates fed AFB1. Different species have been observed to exhibit different levels of susceptibility to aflatoxins, an example being that in rats and rainbow trout AFB1 is amongst the most potent carcinogens known, but is only either a very weak carcinogen or even noncarcinogenic in guinea pigs. AFB1 have been demonstrated to bind covalently to the N7 of guanine in DNA after P450 mediated activation of the C8-C9 vinyl ether to the highly reactive epoxide. From a toxicological point of view, it is clear that the generation of an 8, 9 epoxide of aflatoxin is an important prelude to the toxicity observed [4] Cytochrome P450 enzymes located in the liver are known to convert AFB1 to compounds such as the highly reactive 8, 9 epoxide, aflatoxicol, aflatoxin Q1, aflatoxin P1, and AFM1 depending on the genetic predisposition of the species. Following its formation, the aflatoxin-8, 9-epoxide binds very rapidly to DNA and serum albumin forming aflatoxin-N7-guanine and lysine adducts, respectively [5-7]. A variety of chemical, physical, and biological treatments have beentested for their ability to reduce or eliminate the AFs in contaminated feeds and foods. Ozone gas is a powerful oxidant capable of reaction with numerous chemical groups [8] Ozone either completely degrades mycotoxins or causes chemical modifications, reducing their biological activity. Ozone reacts across the 8, 9 double bond of the furan ring of Volume 3 Issue 4 2017