Study of the cytotoxic activity of beauvericin and fusaproliferin and bioavailability in vitro on Caco-2 cells

Beauvericin (BEA) is a cyclohexadepsipeptide mycotoxin which has insecticidal properties and produces cytotoxic effects in mammalian cells. Fusaproliferin (FUS) is a mycotoxin that has toxic activity against brine shrimp, insect cells, and teratogenic effects on chicken embryos. The aim of this study was to determine the cytotoxicity of BEA and FUS in human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 and Caco-2 cells, the transepithelial transport and the bioavailability using Caco-2 cells as a simulated in vitro gastrointestinal model of the human intestinal epithelium. The inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) evidenced by BEA in the Caco-2 cells was 24.6 and 12.7 μM at 24 and 48 h exposure, respectively, whereas the IC₅₀ values evidenced in HT-29 cells were 15.0 and 9.7 μM, respectively. FUS was cytotoxic, but no IC₅₀ data were observed in the range of concentration tested. BEA bioavailability was variable from 50.1% to 54.3%, whereas FUS presented a bioavailability variable from 80.2% to 83.2%. Results obtained demonstrated a potential risk for human health.