Genotoxic and mutagenic effects of mycotoxins: a review

In this article, genotoxic and mutagenic effects of mycotoxins that are produced by various fungus species have been reviewed. A total of 259 mycotoxins were found in the literature. Genotoxic effects of 109 of these were investigated. Among the studied mycotoxins, only actinomycin D, aflatoxin, alternariol, chrysazin (dantron), citrinin, fumonisin, mytomycin C, nivalenol, ochratoxin A, patulin, sterigmatocystin, versicolorin A and B, vomitoxin, and zearalenone have sufficient number of studies that present or prove their genotoxic effects. Additional studies are required in order to determine whether other mycotoxins have any genotoxic effects. The current study provides valuable information regarding studied mycotoxins. Therefore, it may lead researchers for designing future mycotoxin-related studies that have never been studied.