Cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) is an indole tetramic acid mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium species. The toxicity of CPA is attributed to its ability to alter normal intracellular calcium flux through the specific inhibition of sarcoplasmic or endoplasmic reticulum calcium-dependent ATPase (SERCA) essential for calcium uptake as in the muscle contraction-relaxation cycle, which results in increased muscle contraction. Beside colonizing various grains and seeds, these molds can grow on many food substrates, such as cheese and meat products. Therefore, CPA can contaminate a number of agricultural commodities, animal feeds, and food sources. This toxin has been found in edible tissue in poultry, milk, and eggs presumptively due to animals’ consumption of contaminated feeds. Despite the wide presence of CPA, few incidents of animal mycotoxicosis and no confirmed incident of human poisoning have been attributed to CPA. In preclinical models CPA demonstrated anti-arrhythmic effects.

Pentacosanoic Acid is a long-chain saturated monobasic fatty acid with an odd number of carbon atoms in the chain. Pentacosanoic acid, like most long-chain fatty acids with an odd number of carbon atoms, was found in nature at low concentrations.