Abstract:

Food contamination with aflatoxins is the focus of current concern. The intermittent incidence of these toxins
in agricultural commodities has negative effects on the economy of the affected regions where harvest and postharvest
techniques for the prevention of mold growth are seldom practiced. Aflatoxins are highly hepatotoxic, hepatocarcinogenic,
teratogenic, and mutagenic in nature and they contaminate a wide variety of important agricultural commodities, such as
peanuts, maize, rice and cottonseed, before, during and after harvest in various environmental conditions/settings. The
biosynthesis of aflatoxins in nature depends upon the various factors such as carbon, nitrogen, temperature, water activity,
pH, developmental stages, oxidative stress, and plant metabolites. These toxins can cause several ailments and can be
controlled by blocking and interfering with the absorption and disturbing the metabolic enzymes. The present article
overviews the biosynthesis, infection, transport, metabolism and toxicity of aflatoxins. Detailed studies on their biosynthesis,
mechanism of toxicity, structure-function relationship, metabolism and transport will provide deep insight into the
technology involved in the development of an effective control measures for aflatoxins.

Key words: aflatoxins, biosynthesis, infection, toxicity, mutation