title: Chemical Composition and Antifungal Activity of Cuminum cyminum L. Essential Oil From Alborz Mountain Against Aspergillus species.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a highly toxic and hepatocarcinogenic metabolite produced by Aspergillus species. Some natural products are known to kill fungi and destroy toxins and toxin-producing agents.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to provide experimental data on the antifungal activity of cumin oils and their components that could be considered suitable for application in foods and drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The essential oil (EO) of Cuminum cyminum L. collected from Alborz Mountain, Iran, was obtained by hydro-distillation. The oil was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and chromatography/mass spectrophotometry (GC/MS). The antifungal activity of the oil was studied with regard to the inhibition of the growth of Aspergillus flavus PICC-AF39 , Aspergillus flavus PICC-AF24, Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL-2999 and Aspergillus niger. The minimal inhibitory (MIC) and minimal fungicidal (MFC) concentrations of the oil were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  α-Pinene (29.2%), limonene (21.7%), 1,8-cineole (18.1%), linalool (10.5%), linalyl acetate (4.8%), and α-terpineole (3.17%) were the major components of the essential oil from C. cyminum L., and the oil showed a strong inhibitory effect on fungal growth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Essential oils could be safely used as preservatives in pharmaceuticals as well as health and food products to protect them against toxigenic fungal infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Masjed Soleiman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Masjed Soleiman, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mohammadpour
authors.affiliation: Medicinal Plant Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Eskandar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moghimipour
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Shahed University, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Iraj
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rasooli
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Masjed Soleiman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Masjed Soleiman, IR Iran ; Department of Microbiology, Hidaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hidaj, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hadi
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Fakoor
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Shahed University, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Shakiba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alipoor Astaneh
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Masjed Soleiman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Masjed Soleiman, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shehni Moosaie
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Masjed Soleiman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Masjed Soleiman, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Zeynab
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jalili
keywords: Antifungal Agents; Aspergillus spp.; Cminum cyminum L.; Oils