희나리 고추에서 분리한 곰팡이를 현미에 배양하여 실험동물(rat)에 투여하였을 때 Colletotrichum, Diaporthe, Diaporthopsis, Botryosphereia, Aspergillus, Fusarium의 경우 독성을 나타내지 않았으나 Alternaria alternata로 동정된 곰팡이는 독성을 나타내었다. A. alternata를 배양한 현미를 투여한 실험동물은 사료 섭취량이 상대적으로 낮았으며, 체중 감소를 보였고 2주안에 치사하였으며, 위, 소장, 간의 확대가 관찰되었다. Alternaria속 곰팡이는 17종이 분리되었으며 이들 중 8종은 고추즙과 현미에 배양하였을 때 모두 상당량의 tenuazonic acid를 생산하였고, 현미 배지에서만 alternariol과 alternariol monomethyl ether 독소가 추가로 소량 검출되었다. 건조 과정에서 곰팡이가 번식된 고추는 유해한 대사물의 존재 가능성이 있으므로 식품 안전을 위해 곰팡이 번식을 최대한 억제할 필요가 있다.
Mycotoxins produced by molds isolated from discolored sun-dried red pepper fruits were determined and the toxicity to animals was also tested by feeding mold-grown unpolished rice to rats. Among the mold species tested, only Alternaria alternata was toxic to experimental animals, while other mold species belonging to the genera of Colletotrichum, Diaporthe, Diaporthopsis, Botryosphereia, Aspergillus and Fusarium were not. Rats fed Alternaria-grown rice lost weight and died within two weeks of feeding period. Succumbed rats during the process of feeding study showed extreme cases of enlargements of stomach, small intestine and liver. Among the 17 Alternaria isolates, 8 species produced considerable amount of tenuazonic acid along with small amounts of other toxins including alternariol and monomethyl ether derivative of alternariol in both red pepper homogenate and unpolished rice. It is therefore advised that red pepper fruits infested by molds during the sun-drying process be discarded to avoid unnoticeable health hazards.
