[Study progress on pollution and liver cancer promotion of microcystins]

Abstract

Eutrophication of fresh water lakes and ponds has caused the occurrence of cyanobacteria. Microcystins (MCs) is a class of toxic cyclic heptapeptide, which may be produced by some strains of various blue-green algae. It has become potential hazardous material in aquatic environments for its toxic, distribution and stability. MCs has been showed to be extremely potent hepatotoxins and been viewed as a promoter of liver tumor. In this review, the pollution condition of MCs and its hepatotoxins as well as its mechanisms have been summarized.