alphazearalenone

Alphazearalenone, also referred to as alpha-zearalenone, is a mycotoxin in the class of zearalenone-related compounds. It is chemically related to zearalenone and is considered a stereoisomer or closely related derivative within the zearalenone family. Alphazearalenone has been identified in research contexts as part of the spectrum of Fusarium-produced compounds that can contaminate cereals.

Alphazearalenone is most often detected in cereals and cereal-based products such as corn, wheat, barley, oats, and sorghum that have been contaminated by Fusarium species. It typically co-occurs with zearalenone and other mycotoxins in grains harvested under conditions favorable to fungal growth, including high humidity and warm temperatures. Contamination risks are influenced by agricultural practices, storage conditions, and regional climate.

As with zearalenone, alphazearalenone exhibits estrogenic activity. It can bind to estrogen receptors and influence reproductive physiology in animals, with effects reported in some studies including alterations in estrous cycles and uterine changes at certain exposure levels. The exact relative potency of alphazearalenone compared with zearalenone varies among studies, and human data are limited; risk assessments for alphazearalenone often rely on readouts from zearalenone toxicology.

Detection and analysis of alphazearalenone in foods rely on advanced analytical methods, particularly liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Sample preparation may involve extraction and cleanup steps to separate alphazearalenone from complex grain matrices, with validation to ensure sensitivity and specificity for regulatory monitoring.

Regulatory frameworks for zearalenone generally address the broader class of related mycotoxins; alphazearalenone may be included in broader risk assessments, but explicit, separate limits are not universal. Ongoing surveillance and research continue to clarify its occurrence, potency, and implications for food safety.

See also: zearalenone, zearalanone, zearalenol.