Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a highly toxic mycotoxin found worldwide in cereals, food, and\nanimal feeds. AFB1 binds to human serum albumin (HSA) with high affinity. In previous\nexperiments, it has been revealed that reducing the binding rate of AFB1 with HSA could speed up\nthe elimination rate of AFB1. Therefore, we examined the ability of quercetin to compete with AFB1\nfor binding HSA by fluorescence spectroscopy, synchronous spectroscopy, ultrafiltration studies,\netc. It was shown that AFB1 and quercetin bind to HSA in the same Sudlow site I (subdomain IIA),\nand the binding constant (Ka) of the quercetin-HSA complex is significantly stronger than the\ncomplex of AFB1-HSA. Our data in this experiment showed that quercetin is able to remove the\nAFB1 from HSA and reduce its bound fraction. This exploratory work may be of significance for\nstudies in the future regarding decreasing its bound fraction and then increasing its elimination rate\nfor detoxification. This exploratory study may initiate future epidemiological research designs to\nobtain further in vivo evidence of the long-term (potential protective) effects of competing\nsubstances on human patients.
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