EFFECTS OF AFLATOXIN ON SOYBEAN

Abstract

Aflatoxin is widely known as human and animal carcinogen that can contaminate food and feed stuffs. It is also known as a major food quality problems all over the world. Aflatoxins are group of naturally occurring mycotoxins that are mainly produced by fungus Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. There are seven (7) major groups of mycotoxins reported, which produced by different species of toxigenic fungal genus. The production of mycotoxins from these toxigenic fungi based on the surrounding intrinsic and extrinsic environments. These groups of mycotoxins that contaminates grains, foods and animal feeds are known as Aflatoxin, Trichothecene, Ochratoxins, Ergot alkaloid (Ergolin), Zearalenone, Patulin and Fumonisins. These mycotoxins could cause health hazards and death for human and animals by affecting the mammalian cells, causing some problems in normal cell function and a wide variety of clinical symptoms of diseases. These seven groups of mycotoxin are varied in their toxicity depending on the infection host i.e. human or animal, and also the immunity of human and animals. Soybean is an important food and nutritional security crop world widely. It is also promoted due to its potentiality in proteins for both adults as an infant weaning food.