title: Antimycotoxigenic characteristics of Rosmarinus officinalis and Trachyspermum copticum L. essential oils.
abstract: Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a highly toxic and carcinogenic metabolite produced by Aspergillus species on food and agricultural commodities. Natural products may regulate the cellular effects of aflatoxins and evidence suggests that aromatic organic compounds of spices can control the production of aflatoxins. With a view to controlling aflatoxin production, the essential oils from Rosmarinus officinalis and Trachyspermum copticum L. were obtained by hydrodistillation. Antifungal activities of the oils were studied with special reference to the inhibition of Aspergillus parasiticus growth and aflatoxin production. Minimal inhibitory (MIC) and minimal fungicidal (MFC) concentrations of the oils were determined. T. copticum L. oil showed a stronger inhibitory effect than R. officinalis on the growth of A. parasiticus. Aflatoxin production was inhibited at 450 ppm of both oils with that of R. officinalis being stronger inhibitor. The oils were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The major components of R. officinalis and T. copticum L. oils were Piperitone (23.65%), alpha-pinene (14.94%), Limonene (14.89%), 1,8-Cineole (7.43%) and Thymol (37.2%), P-Cymene (32.3%), gamma-Terpinene (27.3%) respectively. It is concluded that the essential oils could be safely used as preservative materials on some kinds of foods to protect them from toxigenic fungal infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Shahed University, Tehran-Qom Express Way, Opposite Imam Khomeini's shrine, Tehran-3319118651, Iran. rasooli@shahed.ac.ir
authors.forename: Iraj
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rasooli
authors.forename: Mohammad Hadi
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Fakoor
authors.forename: Davod
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yadegarinia
authors.forename: Latif
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gachkar
authors.forename: Abdolamir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allameh
authors.forename: Mohammad Bagher
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Rezaei
mesh_terms: D016604:Aflatoxin B1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019661:Apiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005519:Food Preservation / Q000379:methods; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027542:Rosmarinus / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D005520:Food Preservatives; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D016604:Aflatoxin B1