Electrochemical oxidation diminished toxicity of zearalenone significantly, while reduction increased.

Abstract

Zearalenone (ZEN), one of the most common mycotoxins in cereals, poses a severe health risk to humans. In this study, electrochemical oxidation and reduction degraded ZEN in solution completely within 8min and 20min. The structure of ZEN products was elucidated by mass spectrometry (MS), and their toxicity was evaluated by ECOSAR software and cytotoxicity assay. From simulation, electrochemical oxidation products had lower acute and chronic toxicity, and the product at 9.0V is not harmful (LC50/EC50greater than100mg/L, ChVgreater than10mg/L). CCK-8 assay further confirmed their less cytotoxicity. To our surprise, LC50, EC50, and ChVs of all electrochemical reduction products were lower than 1mg/L, and cell viabilities were less than ZEN, meaning the higher toxicity of electrochemical reduction products. On this Basis, electrochemical oxidation was applied in ZEN contaminated wheat with a degradation rate of 92.32±2.37%, indicating its potential to degrade ZEN practically.