Identification of novel metabolite and its cytotoxic effect on human lymphocyte cells in comparison to other mycotoxins

Abstract

A novel metabolite of P. polonicum was recently isolated from Cameroonian Zea mays by means of preparative silica gel thin layer chromatographic method. The potential cytotoxic effects of this novel compound was further tested, in vitro, against cultured human mononuclear lymphocyte cells over 18-hr period in comparison to ochratoxin A and T-2 toxin. At low concentrations (0.15, 0.31 and 0.63 µg/ml), the toxicity of the novel metabolite was similar to that of T-2 toxin, but was found to be significantly (p<0.05) less toxic than ochratoxin A. The increase of concentration levels of all investigated mycotoxins from 0.15 to 5.0 µg/ml significantly (R2 = 0.8; p<0.001) decreased the cell viability. These findings indicate that the newly identified compound has a toxic effect on lymphocyte cell viability and might be a potential health risk. Having in mind the circumstance, that the novel mycotoxin is frequently found in Cameroonian food commodities as well as in animal feeds from farms with nephropathy problems in Bulgaria, further studies are required on the impact of chronic dose administration of this mycotoxin on human and animal health.