title: Effect of Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil on growth and aflatoxin formation by Aspergillus flavus in culture media and cheese.
abstract: The effect of Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil (EO) against growth, spore production and aflatoxin formation by Aspergillus flavus ATCC 15546 was investigated in synthetic media as well as Iranian ultra-filtered white cheese in brine. EO effectively inhibited radial growth and spore production on potato dextrose agar (PDA) in a dose-dependent manner. At 200 ppm, the radial growth and sporulation reduced by 79.4% and 92.5%, respectively. The growth was completely prevented at EO400 ppm on PDA, and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of the oil was estimated at 1000 ppm. The oil also significantly suppressed mycelial growth and aflatoxin synthesis in broth medium at all concentrations tested (P<0.05). At 150 ppm of EO, the mycelial growth and aflatoxin accumulation reduced by 90% and 99.4%, respectively. The EO at all concentrations tested, had an inhibitory effect against radial fungal growth and aflatoxin production by A. flavus in cheese. However, no concentration of EO examined was able to completely inhibit the growth and aflatoxin production in cheese. The results suggested the potential substitution of the antifungal chemicals by this EO as a natural inhibitor to control the growth of molds in foods such as cheese.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gandomi
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Misaghi
authors.forename: Afshin Akhondzadeh
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Basti
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bokaei
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khosravi
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abbasifar
authors.forename: Ashkan Jebelli
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Javan
mesh_terms: D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002611:Cheese / Q000032:analysis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005516:Food Microbiology; D019686:Lamiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D025282:Mycelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils