Efficacy of Artabotrys odoratissimus oil as a plant based antimicrobial against storage fungi and aflatoxin B1 secretion

Abstract

The essential oil of Artabotrys odoratissimus R.Br. was evaluated for antifungal activity against some storage fungi causing contamination of food stuffs. Minimum inhibitory concentration of the oil was found to be 750 μL L-1 against Aspergillus flavus Link. It was found superior over different prevalent synthetic fungicides which inhibited the growth of A. flavus between 1000-5000 μL L-1. The oil exhibited broad fungitoxic spectrum against fourteen different storage fungi. Aspergillus fumigatus was inhibited at 1000 μL L-1 whereas Cladosporium cladosporioides, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium oxysporum, Helminthosporium oryzae, Macrophomina phaseolina, Microsporum gypseum, Mucor racemosus, Penicillium italicum, Pythium debaryanum, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotium rolfsii and Trichoderma viride at 500 μL L-1. Aspergillus niger was found to be inhibited only 84.9% at 1000 μL L-1. In addition, the oil showed significant efficacy in arresting aflatoxin B1 secretion by the toxigenic strain (Navjot 4NSt) of A. flavus at 750 μL L-1. The efficacy of A. odoratissimus oil as aflatoxin suppressor is being reported for the first time. © 2009 Institute of Food Science and Technology.