Luteoskyrin is a pigment isolated from Penicillium islandicum. There are a number of similar anthroquinones in P. Islandicum including islandicin, rugulosin, rubroskyrin and erythroskyrine. All of these compounds are potent hepatotoxins and have been demonstrated to be carcinogenic in mice. As far as luteoskyrin is concerned, about 50mg/kg in the diet is sufficient to cause liver tumours, cirrhosis and atrophy.
Luteoskyrin, rugulosin and rubroskyrin are mutagenic. They inhibit replication, transcription and DNA repair in bacteria, yeast and animal cells. In addition, they form chelate compounds with nucleic acids. Enantiomers of some compounds vary in toxicity.
In humans, luteoskyrin is toxic by ingestion via intraperitoneal, subcutaneous and intravenous route. Survival is likely following oral ingestion from a purely toxic standpoint. Nevertheless, there have been reports of human mutations occurring some years after oral ingestion.
(continued)