A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF NIVALENOL: A GROWING POTENTIAL DANGER YET TO BE FULLY INVESTIGATED

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites that are secreted by fungi into their direct environment. Recent epidemiologic surveys indicate a significant increase in the global presence of fungal species. Nivalenol, a mycotoxin belonging to trichothecenes type B, has been recently shown to possess one of the more potent toxicities among mycotoxins of the same group. It is critical that further research on the toxicological potential of nivalenol on humans and animals is undertaken. This review reports on the studies conducted on nivalenol thus far, these provide the basis for our current understanding of the mycotoxin.