*1.2.1 Types of aflatoxins*

Among the 18 different types of aflatoxins identified, the major members are aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), B2 (AFB2), G1 (AFG1) and G2 (AFG2), which are produced by *Aspergillus flavus* and *Aspergillus parasiticus A. nomius* [44]. M1 (AFM1) and M2 (AFM2) are metabolites of AFB1 and AFB2 in human and animal milk fed on contaminated food. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) being the most toxic among other species. Additionally other species which produce aflatoxin are *A. pseudotamarii, A. ochraceoroseus, A. rambellii, A. toxicarius* [45]. In addition other fungi of the genera *Aspergillus* (e.g. *A. ochraceus* and *A. carbonarius*) produces another important mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA) [38, 46]. *A. flavus* and *A. parasiticus* varies from highly toxigenic to non-toxigenic forms and are produced by AFB1 than AFG1. *A. parasiticus* are produce by AFB1 and varying amounts of AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 with variable toxigenicity [47]. Aflatoxins B occur more frequently as contaminants, and are also believed to be more potent, than Aflatoxins G [48].
