Assessing the efficacy of nanofabricated plant-based antifungal formulation against the growth and zearalenone toxin production by Fusarium graminearum

Abstract

The study investigates the efficacy of nanoencapsulated antifungal formulation (Ne-CIM) against the growth and zearalenone toxin production by Fusarium graminearum with a detailed mechanism of action. Antifungal and zearalenone toxin inhibitory effects of individual essential oils (EOs) (Carum carvi, and Illicium verum), methyl anthranilate, and their combination (CIM; 1:1:0.5) were recorded in terms of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at (0.80, 0.50, 0.70 and 0.50 µl/ml) and (0.60, 0.40, 0.60 and 0.40 µl/ml) respectively. The antifungal formulation CIM was nanoencapsulated inside the chitosan nanogel and characterized using FTIR, DLS, and XRD. The result revealed that Ne-CIM exhibited elevated antifungal and zearalenone toxin inhibition at 0.40 and 0.30 µl/ml respectively which was found to be superior over the individual EOs and mixture formulation. Further, the mechanism of action of Ne-CIM was also explored by targeting the membrane ergosterol, ion leakage, 260/280 absorbing material, antioxidant enzymes, and carbon source utilization level. The result reveals the remarkable impairment in test biochemical parameters over to control. In addition, the practical applicability of Ne-CIM was investigated using in-situ experiments with inoculated toxigenic F. graminearum in raw material from Withania somnifera. The result revealed that at MIC value Ne-CIM protects 70% of fungal growth and 100% of zearalenone toxin, with remarkable protection from lipid peroxidation. The study recommends the Ne-CIM as a novel green antifungal agent for sustainable management of toxigenic F. graminearum. © The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia 2025.