It has been suggested that dietary estrogens neutralize the effect of synthetic chemicals that mimic the effects of estrogen (i.e., xenoestrogens, environmental estrogens). Genistein, a dietary estrogen, inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells at high doses but additional studies have suggested that at low doses, genistein stimulates proliferation of breast cancer cells. Therefore, if dietar...

Aflatoxins B₁ (AFB₁), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin B₁ (FB₁), T-2 toxin (T-2), and zearalenone (ZEA) are the major foodborne mycotoxins of public health concerns. In the present study, the multiple toxic endpoints of these naturally-occurring mycotoxins were evaluated in Caenorhabditis elegans model for their lethality, toxic effects on growth and reproduction, as well as influence on lifespa...

Zearalenone, a mycotoxin produced by fungi of the genus Fusarium, including F. graminearum, triggers reproduction disorders in certain animals and hyperestrogen syndromes in humans. Current research investigates three concentrations of neem oil extract (0.1, 0.25 and 0.5%) in reducing the production of zearalenone. Neem oil extract decreased zearalenone amount in the three concentrations but hi...

Zearalenone is a mycotoxin compound produced mainly by Fusarium species of fungi which is present in cereals cultivated all over the world. The aim of the research was to examine the toxic influence of different doses of zearalenone on liver cells through estimating mycotoxin influence on markers evaluation of biochemical liver damage. The research was carried out on male Wistar rats. The rats ...

Zearalenone is a resorcylic acid lactone compound that is produced by fungal infection of edible grains and is believed to influence reproduction by binding to estrogen receptors. In order to study the potential estrogenic effects of this compound in the brain, we examined the effects of zearalenone on the expression of neuronal progestin receptors and feminine sexual behavior in female rats. O...

Natural contamination by zearalenone, a toxic metabolite of Fusarium fungi, was surveyed in 160 samples of sorghum imported from 2001 to 2006 into Japan for feed. Of these 160 samples, 84 (52.5%) were contaminated with zearalenone, ranging in concentration from 60 to 7.260 microg/kg. In the contaminated sorghum samples, F. semitectum, F. verticillioides, F. oxysporum, and other Fusarium spp. we...

The estrogenic effect of zearalenone derivatives was investigated for their binding characteristics to cytosol and nuclear receptors in the uterus. Competition with 17beta-estradiol at the cytosol receptor sites was observed in four of the six derivatives tested, namely trans- and cis-zearalenone, zearalenol, and zearalanol. The other two, 8'-hydroxyzearalenone and 6'-aminozearalene, lacked the...

At an average age of 70 d, 60 Yorkshire gilts born either in July (Trial 1; n = 30) or August (Trial 2; n = 30) received a diet containing zearalenone for 0 (control), 45 or 90 d. The concentration of zearalenone in diets was 2 ppm for 2 wk and 1.5 ppm for the remainder of the study. Vulval swelling and reddening was evident within 7 d after zearalenone was first fed. Zearalenone consumption ha...

These studies concentrate on the possibility of using selenium ions and/or 24-epibrassinolide at non-toxic levels as protectors of wheat plants against zearalenone, which is a common and widespread mycotoxin. Analysis using the UHPLC-MS technique allowed for identification of grains having the stress-tolerant and stress-sensitive wheat genotype. When germinating in the presence of 30 µM of zear...

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungal species that have harmful effects on mammals. The aim of this study was to assess the content of mycotoxins in fresh-cut material of selected forage grass species both during and at the end of the growing season. We further assessed mycotoxin content in subsequently produced first-cutting silages with respect to the species used in this st...