The metabolic products of micro-organisms can be classified either as compounds of primary metabolic concern or else as secondary metabolites - substances which are apparently non-essential to the producing or- ganism. Fungi have a remarkable capacity to produce such secondary metabolites, e. g. mycotoxins with a diverse array of structural and pharmacological properties (1). The present resurgence of interest in all aspects of mycotoxin research (2, 3) can be related to the impact of the hepatotoxins (aflatoxin, sporidesmin, and phomopsin), nephrotoxins (ochratoxin and citrinin), and dermal...
The metabolic products of micro-organisms can be classified either as compounds of primary metabolic concern or else as secondary metabolites - substa...