Abstract:
Aflatoxins are highly toxic compounds and can cause both acute and chronic toxicity in humans and many other animals. Aflatoxins are toxic metabolites produced by different species of toxigenic fungi, called mycotoxins. ). Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi. Due to the widespread distribution of fungi in the environment, mycotoxins are considered to be one of the most important contaminants in foods and feeds. Aflatoxin types include B1, B2, G1, G2,B1 is most prevalent and toxic aflatoxin. Aflatoxins are poisonous and cancer-causing chemical that are produced by certain molds - Aspergillus flavus , Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus nomius . Other fungi have been described in the literature as aflatoxins' producers such as A.bombycis, A. ochraceoroseus and A. pseudotamari (Klich et al, 2000; Mishra & Das, 2003). The mycotoxin problem is most acute in developing countries where climate and lack of resources compromise production (Paterson, 2007).
Keywords:Aflatoxins, Mycotoxins, B1, B2, G1, G2 ,Aspergillus flavus , Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus nomius