Protective activity of melatonin against mycotoxins-induced toxicity: a review

Abstract

Mycotoxins are hazardous compounds which, produced by certain fungi, contaminate agricultural commodities and cause a condition called mycotoxicosis in humans and livestock. In cellular level the toxicity is due to the generation of reactive oxygen species, disruption of protein, DNA and RNA synthesis, depletion of glutathione content, and induction of apoptosis. Protection of food from contamination is the most direct approach, however, there are some limitations, comprising economical and technical feasibility in this regard. Melatonin is a pineal hormone with potent antioxidant and protective activity against different toxins and has high cellular uptake and favorable safety and bioavailability following oral administration. Different in vitro and in vivo studies used melatonin as a protective agent against toxicity induced by mycotoxins and promising results were reported. This review summarizes current knowledge on the protective activity of MEL and its underlying mechanisms against different classes of mycotoxins.

Keywords:

• Melatonin
• aflatoxin
• ochratoxin A
• hepatotoxicity
• mycotoxin

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The authors are thankful to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences for financial support.