Citrinin (CT)

Citrinin is a mycotoxin. It has since been found to be produced by a variety of other fungi that are found or used in the production of human foods, such as grain, cheese, sake, and red pigments. Citrinin has also been found in commercial red yeast rice supplements. Citrinin acts as a nephrotoxin in all species in which it has been tested, but its acute toxicity varies. It causes mycotoxic nephropathy in livestock and has been implicated as a cause of Balkan nephropathy and yellow rice fever in humans. Citrinin is used as a reagent in biological research. It induces mitochondrial permeability pore opening and inhibits respiration by interfering with complex III of the respiratory chain. Citrinin can permeate through the human skin. Although no significant health risk is expected after dermal contact in agricultural or residential environments, dermal exposure should nevertheless be limited.