ROLE OF AFLATOXIN METABOLISM IN ITS TOXIC LESION

The public health significance and fundamental mechanism of action of aflatoxin has been extensively examined since its discovery over 15 yr ago. It is comprised of a group of bis-furano-coumarins, which can be metabolized by the drug-metabolizing enzyme system in addition to other enzymes. Most current literature supports the concept that microsomal enzyme activation is required before cytotoxicity can be expressed. Many aflatoxin B1 metabolites have been identified and their toxicological properties examined. Therefore the role for metabolism of aflatoxin B1 is crucial to its eventual toxicity, and an understanding of this rather complex metabolism scheme would further elucidate the toxicological significance of this compound as well as possibly identify the critical molecular interaction initiating the lesion. The metabolism of aflatoxin in here reviewed.