Abstract
India is a tropical country with varying climates in different regions. It ranges from hot humid to semiarid or arid conditions depending on the region and the season. Basically India is an agricultural country producing a variety of agricultural commodities since time immemorial. Agriculture in India has progressed along with its great civilization. By the methods of trial and error the farmers have learnt the best methods of crop harvest, drying and its safe storage. However, occassionally, mainly because of abnormal weather conditions such as unseasonal rains, cyclones and floods the farmers are compelled to store the farm produce under higher moisture conditions which may lead to the invasion by a variety of fungi, a few of which may produce mycotoxins. Besides, some plant pathogens like Claviceps fusiformis infect the host plants leading to the development of mycotoxins. The problem of mycotoxins had been well recognised by the ancient Indians. A text entitled “Arthashastra” (economics) written in the year 300 B.C. by the great Indian diplomat Chanakya refers to killing of tigers by baiting them with the millet Kodo (Paspalum scrobiculatum). This millet does not inherently contain any toxic components. However as a result of microbial invasion, it often develops various cytochalasins. The toxic symptoms of feeding infected millet in animals include vomiting, unconsciousness and delirium. Mushroom poisoning was fairly common in ancient India. It is beleived that the Soma rasa an intoxicating drink made of certain mushrooms were being used during the vedic period in about 5000 year B.C. Lord Buddha, according to one school of thought was beleived to have died at the age of 80 years in the year 478B. C. due to consumption of “sukkaramaddava” or mushroom containing food. A mycotoxic disease in man characterised by vomiting and diarrhoea was described in India in 1929 by Narasimhan. The disease was caused by the consumption of finger millet, Eleusine coracana stored in underground storage pit-a traditional storage structure. The grains were heavily contaminated with Heterosporium
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