Presença de fungos toxigênicos e micotoxinas em plantas medicinais e chás de ervas consumidos pela sociedade brasileira

Abstract

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by different species of fungi and present, high toxicity against microorganisms, plants and animals. Mycotoxins aid the fungi on the competition within its ecological niche, which apparently are not necessary for growth and development of all species. The main genera of fungi that produce mycotoxins found in Brazil are: Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Penicillium and Rhizopus. The toxicological effects of ingestion of mycotoxins can beacutely toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic and/or immunosuppressants. Different segments of society consume medicinal herbs or herbal tea daily for various reasons, including to prevent or cure disease. The identification of fungi and their toxic metabolites is a necessary procedure for food safety for consumers of medicinal plants and herbal teas. The presence of fungi mycotoxigenic may result in adverse effects on health. Thus, this study aimed to provide data on the presence of fungi and their mycotoxins in medicinal plants and herbal teas consumed by society. This study performed a literature review of scientific papers published by Brazilian researchers in national and international journals between the years 2001 and 2010. According tothe detected fungal genera, Aspergillus has been found in all analysis, followed by Penicillium, Cladosporium, Rhizopus and Fusarium. Regarding the parameters identification of fungal species can observe the predominance of species of Aspergillus niger and A. flavus in medicinal plants and herbal teas. Inadequate quality of raw material, processing, distribution, storage and marketing of teas contribute to contamination and increased mycotoxin-producing fungal species, beingnecessary to impose appropriate measures to control the sanitary-hygiene guaranted quality and safety of this product.