Ferroptosis as a Potential Therapeutic Target of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Mycotoxicosis: A Review

Mycotoxin contamination has become one of the biggest hidden dangers of food safety, which seriously threatens human health. Understanding the mechanisms by which mycotoxins exert toxicity is key to detoxification. Ferroptosis is an adjustable cell death characterized by iron overload and lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and glutathione (GSH) depletion. More and more studies have shown that ferroptosis is involved in organ damage from mycotoxins exposure, and natural antioxidants can alleviate mycotoxicosis as well as effectively regulate ferroptosis. In recent years, research on the treatment of diseases by Chinese herbal medicine through ferroptosis has attracted more attention. This article reviews the mechanism of ferroptosis, discusses the role of ferroptosis in mycotoxicosis, and summarizes the current status of the regulation of various mycotoxicosis through ferroptosis by Chinese herbal interventions, providing a potential strategy for better involvement of Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of mycotoxicosis in the future.

Automated summary

Mycotoxin contamination poses a significant threat to food safety and human health. Understanding the mechanism of mycotoxin toxicity is crucial for detoxification. Ferroptosis, characterized by iron overload and accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) and depletion of glutathione (GSH), plays a role in organ damage from mycotoxin exposure, and natural antioxidants can alleviate mycotoxicosis and regulate ferroptosis. Chinese herbal medicine research on treating diseases through ferroptosis has gained attention. This article reviews the mechanism of ferroptosis, discusses its role in mycotoxicosis, and summarizes the current status of Chinese herbal interventions in regulating mycotoxicosis through ferroptosis, providing insights for future treatment strategies.