The trichothecenes' are a group of complex fungal sesquiter- penoids which can act as antibacterial, antiviral, and cytostatic agents; some are phytotoxic, and all show some degree of animal toxicity. Deoxynivalenol (1, R = H) is a major trichothecene mycotoxin2 associated with infection of cereal grains by Fusariurn species; consumption of such contami- nated feed-stuffs can cause sub-lethal toxicoses in animals. The exact metabolic fate of the toxin ...
