[The biochemical activity of the aflatoxins (author's transl)].

Abstract

Results of experiments with the Salmonella typhimurium-liver microsome technique make it evident that the mutagenic and carcinogenic metabolite of aflatoxin B1 is aflatoxin B1-2,3-oxide. This compound forms adducts with guanine in DNA. There is a close relationship between the mutagenic activity and the hepatocarcinogenic property of the different aflatoxin derivatives.