Return to Outline Discovery, toxicology and characterization of aflatoxins Aflatoxin, probably the most important mycotoxin, was first described in England in 1960. It was identified as the cause of Turkey X disease, in which over 100,000 birds died with symptom s including loss of appetite, lethargy, liver damage, hepatomas. Outbreak was traced to contaminated peanut meal from Brazil. This material was also toxic to ducklings and trout. The toxins were purified by organic extraction, thin layer chromotography, and visualized by Ultra Violet light.
Aflatoxin is a mixture of closely related molecules.
Aflatoxins B1 B2, G1, and G3. Aflatoxins are bisfuranocoumarins . Structures of aflatoxins are show in t he handout. Aflatoxins are among the most highly carcinogenic materials known. Individual kernels may have 300,000 to 600,000 ppb with adjacent non-infected kernels having 4,000 ppb.