Sterigmatocystin is a hepatotoxic and genotoxic fungal mycotoxin and aflatoxin precursor.
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Sterigmatocystin is a polyketide-derived mycotoxin produced mainly by Aspergillus species and recognized as the direct biosynthetic precursor of aflatoxin B1. Toxicological studies demonstrated acute hepatotoxicity in primates and experimental animals, characterized by bile-duct proliferation, hepatocellular degeneration, and hemorrhagic necrosis. Mechanistic investigations revealed that sterigmatocystin undergoes metabolic activation to reactive intermediates capable of forming DNA adducts, inducing oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, and cell-cycle arrest, consistent with its genotoxic and carcinogenic classification (IARC Group 2B). Beyond toxicity, sterigmatocystin has been reported to inhibit Plasmodium falciparum proliferation and transmission, supporting its utility as a bioactive probe in antimalarial research.
