A comprehensive review on biological properties of citrinin

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology Vol. 110; pp. 130 - 141
• Main Authors: de Oliveira Filho, José Williams Gomes, Islam, Muhammad Torequl, Ali, Eunus S., Uddin, Shaikh Jamal, Santos, Jose Victor de Oliveira, de Alencar, Marcus Vinícius Oliveira Barros, Júnior, Antonio Luiz Gomes, Paz, Márcia Fernanda Correia Jardim, de Brito, Maria dos Remédios Mendes, e Sousa, João Marcelo de Castro, Shaw, Subrata, de Medeiros, Maria das Graças Freire, Dantas, Sandra Maria Mendes de Moura, Rolim, Hercília Maria Lins, Ferreira, Paulo Michel Pinheiro, Kamal, Mohammad Amjad, Pieczynska, Magdalena D., Das, Niranjan, Gupta, Vijai K., Mocan, Andrei, dos Santos Andrade, Teresinha de Jesus Aguiar, Singh, Brahma Nand, Mishra, Siddhartha K., Atanasov, Atanas G., Melo-Cavalcante, Ana Amélia de Carvalho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2017
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents - chemistry; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Anticancer; Antimicrobial; Citrinin; Citrinin - chemical synthesis; Citrinin - chemistry; Citrinin - pharmacology; DNA Damage - drug effects; Food Contamination - analysis; Genotoxicity; Humans; Mycotoxins; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Toxicity; Antimicrobial; Citrinin; Anticancer; Toxicity; Mycotoxins; Genotoxicity
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2017.10.002

Citrinin (CIT) is a mycotoxin which causes contamination in the food and is associated with different toxic effects. A web search on CIT has been conducted covering the timespan since 1946. The accumulated data indicate that CIT is produced by several fungal strains belonging to Penicillium, Aspergillus and Monascus genera, and is usually found together with another nephrotoxic mycotoxin, ochratoxin A. Although, it is evident that CIT exposure can exert toxic effects on the heart, liver, kidney, as well as reproductive system, the mechanism of CIT-induced toxicity remains largely elusive. It is still controversial what are the genotoxic and mutagenic effects of CIT. Until now, its toxic effect has been linked to the CIT-mediated oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in biological systems. However, the toxicity strongly depends on its concentration, route, frequency and time of exposure, as well as from the used test systems. Besides the toxic effects, CIT is also reported to possess a broad spectrum of bioactivities, including antibacterial, antifungal, and potential anticancer and neuro-protective effects in vitro. This systematic review presents the current state of CIT research with emphasis on its bioactivity profile. •Citrinin (CIT) is a mycotoxin causing food contamination and is associated with different toxic effects.•CIT exposure can exert systemic toxic effects, and the mechanism of CIT-induced toxicity remains largely elusive.•CIT is reported to possess antibacterial, antifungal, and in vitro anticancer and neuro-protective effects.•CIT-mediated oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in biological systems is a key mechanism of action.•This systematic review presents the current state of CIT research with emphasis on its bioactivity profile.