Aflatoxin-Induced Neurotoxic Signaling in Animals

Exposure to mycotoxins is a silent and emerging risk to neurological health across the world, especially for vulnerable populations of humans and animals.Aflatoxins (AFTs), produced by fungal contaminants of agricultural commodities are toxic to all the organs of body.The most potent and neurotoxic congener is aflatoxin B1 (AFB1).It has been found that this toxin causes lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction, neurotransmitter imbalances, DNA damage, apoptosis and pyroptosis, all of which increase the evidence of disruption of brain homeostasis.Collectively, these neuropathological alterations contribute to a broad spectrum of neurobehavioral disturbances, including heightened emotional dysfunction, depressive manifestations, impaired cognition, deficits in learning and memory retention, and reduced food intake.The neurotoxic effects of AFB1 are mediated through the activation of diverse molecular networks, notably Toll-like receptor signaling (TLR2/TLR4), Akt-dependent pathways, NF-κB and ERK/MAPK cascades, protein kinase C (PKC) signaling, gasdermin D associated pyroptotic mechanisms, and mitochondria-driven apoptotic processes.Phytochemicals, herbal extracts and probiotics are emerging as therapeutic agents with neuroprotective properties against AFB1-induced neuronal injury.Overall, this review offers an overview of the neuropathological mechanisms involved in aflatoxin toxicity and outlines the potential for novel neuroprotective therapeutic approaches.