Review article

Beauvericin: Chemical and Biological Aspects and Occurence

Maja Šegvić-Klarić
Stjepan Pepeljnjak

Abstract

Beauvericin (BEA) is a cyclic hexadepsipeptide produced by Beauveria bassiana, Paecilomyces fumosoroseus, Paecilomyces tenuipes, Polyporus sulphurous, and a variety of Fusarium species. This mycotoxin shows antimicrobial, insecticidal, cytotoxic, and apoptotic activity. It is the most potent specific inhibitor of cholesterol acyltransferase and possesses ionophoric properties. BEA increases ion permeability in biological membranes by forming a complex with essential cations (Ca2+, Na+, K+), which may affect the ionic homeostasis. BEA has been frequently found in maize samples in Europe, USA and Africa and co-contamination with other Fusarium toxins such as fumonisins, and moniliformin was also found. There is only one report of BEA occurrence and co-occurrence with fumonisin B1, fumonisin B2 and ochratoxin A in Croatia. Biological activity of BEA may increase the toxicity of other mycotoxins that co-occur with BEA in food. The role of BEA in the development of human and animal mycotoxicosis is still unknown.

Keywords

beauvericin; antimicrobial activity; apoptosis; citotoxycity; essential cations; Fusarium; maize

Hrčak ID:

123

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/123

Publication date:

7.12.2005.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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