Mycotoxins as Causal Factors of Diseases in Humans

Abstract
The criteria of human mycotoxicoses are discussed and the role of certain mycotoxins in human diseases highlighted, e.g. ergotoxins (ergotism), trichothecenes, T2-toxin (alimentary toxic aleukia), aflatoxins (primary liver cancer), ochratoxins (Balkan Endemic Nephropathy and chronic interstitial nephropathy) and fumonisins (oesophogeal cancer). The chemical properties and biochemical mechanism of action of aflatoxin B1 ochratoxin A and fumonisin B1 are discussed.