Aflatoxins are dangerous and carcinogenic mycotoxins
produced as secondary metabolites of Aspergillus flavus and
Aspergillus parasiticus. These polyketides contaminate a variety of
important agricultural products, such as corn, cottonseed, peanut,
and tree nuts, both in the field and after harvest, and are extremely
carcinogenic when ingested in small amount by animals and
humans [1]. The wide occurrence of aflatoxin contamination in
food and feed and the subsequent serious health and economic
impact arewell recognized internationally. So far, over 50 countries
have established or proposed regulations on the permissible level
of aflatoxins in food and feed because low dose consumption of
aflatoxin contaminated food stuff causes chronic aflatoxicosis
resulting in cancer, suppression of immunological responses, and
other ‘‘slow’’ pathological conditions in both animals and humans
[2]. To minimize exposure to these potent toxins, the US Food and
Drug administration imposed 20 ng/g (ppb) limits of aflatoxin
content allowed in foodstuffs for human consumption, while the
European Community has imposed more stringent level of 4 ng/g
[3]. In addition to the adverse effects that aflatoxin has on human
and animal health worldwide there are also significant economic
costs incurred trying to mitigate aflatoxin contamination of crops.
A. flavus and A. parasiticus cause worldwide annual losses of
approximately $270 M [4]. In the U.S. the southeast peanut,
southern cotton belt, and mid-south corn farming regions are
considered to be endemic to severe outbreak of aflatoxin
contamination.