Prevention and Detoxification of Mycotoxins in Human Food and Animal Feed using Bio-resources from South Mediterranean Countries: a Critical Review

Abstract

Mycotoxins, which are natural toxic compounds produced by filamentous fungi, are considered major contaminants in the food and feed chain due to their stability during processing. Their impacts in food and feedstuff pollution were accentuated due the climate change in the region. They are characterized by their toxicological effects on human and animal health but also by their harmful economic impact. Mediterranean countries: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia are characterized by high temperatures and high relative humidity, particularly in littoral regions that provide favorable conditions for fungal growth and toxinogenesis. Many scientific papers have been published recently in these countries showing mycotoxin occurrence in different commodities and an attempt at bio-detoxification using many bio-products. In order to minimize the bioavailability and/or to detoxify mycotoxins into less toxic metabolites (bio-transforming agents), safe and biological methods have been developed including the use of lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, plant extracts and clays minerals from Mediterranean regions. The aim of this review is to present the pollution of mycotoxins in food and feedstuff of humans and animals and to discuss the development of effective biological control for mycotoxin removal/detoxification and prevention using bio-products. This review will also elucidate the new used natural products to be considered as a new candidates for mycotoxins detoxification/prevention on animal feedstuffs.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Mycotoxins
• occurrence
• Mediterranean countries
• bio-products
• detoxification
• prevention

Acknowledgements

The financial support granted to the authors to carry out this study was a part of PHC-Maghreb project (09MAG20). We would like to express our gratitude to the reviewers for their thoughtful feedback and support in improving this manuscript. Their interesting suggestions certainly have strengthened this review.

We would like to acknowledge the valuable contribution of Tunisian Society of Toxicology (TST) members at the 9th international Scientific days for their critical remarks in the literature search of the paper witch improve the quality of the review. We also take this opportunity to acknowledge the Tunisian Society of Biotechnology and Bio-Resources Valorization (AT-BVBR) member Pr. H. Sebai for reviewing the preliminary categories, and Dr. M. Jridi, who is a member of the Unit of functional Physiology and Bio-Resources Valorization, ISBB, University of Jendouba and Dr. MA. Abdel-Wahhab who is a member of the Food Toxicology and contaminant Department, NRC Cairo Egypt. for their help in reviewing the draft manuscript.

Declaration of interest

The authors have not participated in and do not anticipate participation in any legal, regulatory, or advocacy proceedings related to the contents of the paper.