On the masked mycotoxin zearalenone-14-glucoside. Does the mask truly hide?

• ZEN-14-Glc is cleaved in breast cancer cell culture to release the parent form.
• Besides deglycosilation, ZEN-14-Glc biotransformation may occur in MCF7 cells as well.
• The xenoestrogenic activity of masked ZEN is not quenched by glucosilation.

In the matter of foodborne mycotoxins, beside a number of regulated compounds, regulations are totally missing for phase-II plant metabolites – the toxicological knowledge of which is still in its infancy. Currently, zearalenone-14-glucoside is in the pipeline and its toxicological role is under a glowing scientific debate. In our work it clearly showed high toxicological concerns as it is prone to conversion to well-known toxic compounds (i.e. zearalenone and both zearalenol isomers) when exposed to breast cancer cells culture. The need of future risk assessment studies has been pointed out accordingly.

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