Targeting Mycotoxin Toxicity: From Molecular Mechanisms to Nutritional Interventions

Abstract

Mycotoxin contamination is an important threat to food and feed safety as well as human and animal health, with particular emphasis on oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy, inflammation, and dysbiosis. Mycotoxins represent major health threats because they disturb cellular homeostasis and induce oxidative damage. Nutritional factors, such as dietary antioxidants and bioactive chemicals, can influence the body’s reaction to mycotoxin exposure, either reducing or increasing its effects. This study discusses how mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol, and ochratoxin A) induce oxidative stress by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated DNA damage, which induces cellular damage and activates apoptosis, an intended cell death process that is critical for tissue integrity. Furthermore, mycotoxins alter autophagy, a cellular degradation process that can be beneficial or destructive depending on the situation, affecting cell survival. The inflammatory response is particularly important because mycotoxin-induced oxidative stress and cell damage activate inflammatory pathways, which contribute to tissue injury and disease progression. Nutritional factors high in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory substances (Lycopene, Curcumin, Thyme oil, Gum Arabic, and Ginger), probiotics, and prebiotics show potential in mitigating these negative consequences by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Advances in molecular biology and omics technologies (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and single-cell sequencing) can lead to better knowledge of the underlying pathways, allowing for more tailored nutritional recommendations and medicinal interventions. Finally, combining dietary modulation with mycotoxin risk management is a viable path for protecting health and increasing resilience to mycotoxin-related toxicities in animals.