Masked Mycotoxins of Deoxynivalenol and Zearalenone – Unpredicted Toxicity

Abstract

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungal species. Detoxificationprocesses of plants which are infected with the toxigenic fungi are responsible forthe conversion of them to mycotoxin derivatives, called masked mycotoxins. Maskedmycotoxins are less toxic metabolites for plants according to their free forms. Both ofthese metabolites have toxic effects on animals and humans. Masked mycotoxins arehydrolyzed into their free forms by human and animal intestinal microbiomes. Here,we reviewed the unforeseen toxicity of masked trichothecenes, especially focused ondeoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN), which are classified as major mycotoxinsof Fusarium species.