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Volume 18
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10.3390/toxins18070313
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Systematic Review

Biological Detoxification of Aflatoxin B1: A Systematic Review of Microbial and Enzymatic Strategies, Mechanisms, and Applications in Food and Feed Systems

by
Sarra Rafai
,
Lara Manyes
,
Ana Moreno
,
Alessandra Cimbalo
,
Giuseppe Meca
and
Victor Dopazo
*
Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés S/n, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Toxins 2026, 18(7), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins18070313
Submission received: 23 June 2026 / Revised: 15 July 2026 / Accepted: 16 July 2026 / Published: 18 July 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradation and Biodetoxification of Mycotoxins)
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Abstract

Contamination of food and feed by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) remains a major global concern due to its toxicity, carcinogenicity, and persistence in the food chain. Environmental and climatic pressures continue to favor aflatoxigenic fungal contamination, highlighting the need for effective and sustainable detoxification strategies. Biological detoxification has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional physical and chemical treatments. This systematic review, conducted following PRISMA guidelines, summarizes microbial and enzymatic approaches for AFB1 detoxification, focusing on bacteria, yeasts, and microbial enzymes. The literature shows a predominance of bacterial systems, especially lactic acid bacteria and Bacillus species, mainly acting through adsorption, fungal growth inhibition, and suppression of aflatoxin biosynthesis. Yeasts, although less represented, also showed promising detoxification capacities through adsorption and biodegradation-related mechanisms. Enzymatic systems achieved the highest efficiencies, particularly oxidative enzymes such as laccases and dye-decolorizing peroxidases, often exceeding 90% detoxification under optimized conditions. However, industrial application remains limited by laboratory-scale validation, variability among protocols, incomplete toxicological assessment of degradation products, and limited evidence in complex food and feed matrices.
Keywords: aflatoxin B1; biological detoxification; biodegradation; biotransformation; lactic acid bacteria; yeasts; laccase; microbial detoxification; food safety aflatoxin B1; biological detoxification; biodegradation; biotransformation; lactic acid bacteria; yeasts; laccase; microbial detoxification; food safety
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MDPI and ACS Style

Rafai, S.; Manyes, L.; Moreno, A.; Cimbalo, A.; Meca, G.; Dopazo, V. Biological Detoxification of Aflatoxin B1: A Systematic Review of Microbial and Enzymatic Strategies, Mechanisms, and Applications in Food and Feed Systems. Toxins 2026, 18, 313. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins18070313

AMA Style

Rafai S, Manyes L, Moreno A, Cimbalo A, Meca G, Dopazo V. Biological Detoxification of Aflatoxin B1: A Systematic Review of Microbial and Enzymatic Strategies, Mechanisms, and Applications in Food and Feed Systems. Toxins. 2026; 18(7):313. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins18070313

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rafai, Sarra, Lara Manyes, Ana Moreno, Alessandra Cimbalo, Giuseppe Meca, and Victor Dopazo. 2026. "Biological Detoxification of Aflatoxin B1: A Systematic Review of Microbial and Enzymatic Strategies, Mechanisms, and Applications in Food and Feed Systems" Toxins 18, no. 7: 313. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins18070313

APA Style

Rafai, S., Manyes, L., Moreno, A., Cimbalo, A., Meca, G., & Dopazo, V. (2026). Biological Detoxification of Aflatoxin B1: A Systematic Review of Microbial and Enzymatic Strategies, Mechanisms, and Applications in Food and Feed Systems. Toxins, 18(7), 313. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins18070313

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