Enniatin A1, enniatin B1 and beauvericin on HepG2: Evaluation of toxic effects.

Hepatotoxicity of three Fusarium mycotoxins, beauvericin (BEA) and two enniatins (ENNs) ENN A1 and ENN B1, in hepatocarcinoma cells (HepG2) were evaluated and compared. Concentrations used were 1.5 and 3 μM at 24, 48 and 72 h for each mycotoxin. Flow cytometry was used to examine enniatins effects on cell proliferation, to characterize the cell cycle phase where the cells blocked and to study the mitochondria role in ENNs-induced apoptosis. ENN B1 treated cells showed a time dependent G1 blockade at both concentrations used. ENN A1 and BEA decreased the apoptotic-necrotic percentage of cells comparing to control and disrupted the MMP as observed by TMRM and ToPro-3 fluorochromes signal. It is proposed a decreasing mycotoxin order by number of effects as follows: BEA > ENN B1 > ENN A1, with 47, 20 and 16%, respectively out of all situations compared.