Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2

Biodeterioration of some herbal raw materials by storage fungi and aflatoxin and assessment of Cymbopogon flexuosus essential oil and its components as antifungal
(2009) Ashok Kumar; Ravindra Shukla; Priyanka Singh; Nawal Kishore Dubey
Deterioration of raw materials of six medicinal plants viz. Terminalia arjuna, Acorus calamus, Rauvolfia serpentina, Holarrhena antidysenterica, Withania somnifera and Boerhaavia diffusa was examined. Some of the contaminated raw materials were found to be deteriorated by toxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus and contain aflatoxin B1 (41.0-95.4 μg kg-1) which is above the permissible limit. Essential oil of Cymbopogon flexuosus and its components was found efficient in checking fungal growth and aflatoxin production. C. flexuosus essential oil absolutely inhibited the growth of A. flavus and aflatoxin B1 production at 1.3 μl ml-1 and 1.0 μl ml-1 respectively. The individual oil components were more efficacious than the Cymbopogon oil as such which emphasizes masking of their efficacy when combined together. Eugenol exhibited potent antifungal and aflatoxin inhibitory activity at 0.3 μl ml-1 and 0.1 μl ml-1 respectively. Eugenol was found superior over some prevalent synthetic antimicrobials and exhibited broad fungitoxic spectrum against some biodeteriorating moulds. Prospects of exploitation of the oil and its components as acceptable plant based antimicrobials in qualitative as well as quantitative control of biodeterioration of herbal raw materials have been discussed. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Use of essential oil from Mentha arvensis L. to control storage moulds and insects in stored chickpea
(2009) Ashok Kumar; Ravindra Shukla; Priyanka Singh; Amit K. Singh; Nawal K. Dubey
Background: Fungal contamination and Callosobruchus infestation results in qualitative and quantitative losses of chickpea seeds during storage. Most of the synthetic chemicals used as preservatives have adverse effects. Therefore, the antifungal and insecticidal potential of Mentha arvensis essential oil was evaluated to determine whether this could be an eco-friendly substitute of synthetic preservatives. Results: The stored chickpea seeds were dominated by Aspergillus flavus (46.1%) and 30% isolates among them were found toxigenic. The MIC of Mentha oil against A. flavus was recorded at 400 μL L-1 and it exhibited broad fungitoxic activity against 14 storage fungi. The oil was found superior to some prevalent synthetic fungicides. Mentha oil showed potent insecticidal activity against Callosobruchus chinensis at different concentrations and exposure times. The oviposition by C. chinensis was completely checked at 10 μL L-1 while F-1 emergence was completely inhibited at 200 μL L-1. During in situ experiments,94.05% protection of the chickpea from C.chinensis by Mentha oil showed superiority over the organophosphate insecticide malathion, where 90.75% protection was recorded. Conclusion: The Mentha EO showing potent fungitoxic and insecticidal efficacy and may be recommended as a plant-based preservative in the management of fungal and insect infestation of chickpea and other pulses during storage. © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry.

2009

Browse

Filters

Settings

Sort By

Results per page

Search Results