Natural formation of styrene by cinnamon mold flora.
Tests on 106 dried pure cinnamon samples of diverse origins showed that some samples were naturally contaminated with high levels of styrene, up to 524 microg/g. Styrene taint can be associated with high water activity levels and thus with microorganism growth. The mold flora of a Korintji cinnamon sample in which styrene had been found at a 50 microg/g concentration was analyzed and 5 species of mold were isolated. An investigation into the ability of the 5 species of mold to produce styrene showed that 3 of them--namely, Penicillium citrinum, Penicillium oxalicum, Aspergillus niger--produced styrene in vitro in buffered peptone water at 25 degrees C within 5 d in the presence of several natural cinnamon volatile constituents containing the styrene structure. The conversion of these compounds into styrene by these 3 cinnamon fungal species has never been previously reported. A standardized inoculation with the 3 mold species was carried out on 10 g cinnamon samples of various origins followed by a 10-d incubation and highlighting styrene production except for Sri Lanka origin.
Lafeuille
J-L
JL
McCormick France, McCormick Europe Central Analysis Laboratory, 84210 Carpentras, France. jlafeuille@fr.mccormick.com
Buniak
M-L
ML
Vioujas
M-C
MC
Lefevre
S
S
D000171:Acrolein / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D032904:Cinnamomum aromaticum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control; D005658:Fungi / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009090:Mucorales / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry; D010143:Paecilomyces / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010407:Penicillium / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology*; D020058:Styrene / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D002934:Cinnamates; D003603:Cytotoxins; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D020058:Styrene; D000171:Acrolein; C012843:cinnamaldehyde