Phytoprevention of aflatoxin production

  Background: Consumption of mycotoxic foods is associated with several cases of human poisoning, or mycotoxicosis, sometimes resulting in death.   Objective: Phytopreventive inhibition of Aspergillus parasiticus growth and its aflatoxin production by the essential oils extracted from Thymus kotschyanus Boiss & Hohen and Zataria multiflora Boiss. is reported in this study.   Methods: Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) and fungicidal kinetics of the oils were determined and compared with each other. Results: The oils from the above mentioned plants were found to be strongly fungicidal and inhibitory to aflatoxin production. Both oils inhibited aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production by A.parasiticus. T. kotschyanus and Z. multiflora oils at 25 ppm concentration, reduced AFB1 levels by 100% and 47.87% respectively. Aflatoxin production was significantly inhibited at lower than fungistatic concentration of both oils. The analysis of oils by GC and GC/MS led to identification of 27 and 22 components in T. kotschyanus and Z. multiflora Boiss. respectively which were very similar to each other. Conclusion: Prevention of fungal growth and aflatoxin production by natural compounds is recommended.