title: Utilization of waste fruit-peels to inhibit aflatoxins synthesis by Aspergillus flavus: a biotreatment of rice for safer storage.
abstract: Antifungal activity in lemon and pomegranate peels was considerable against Aspergillus flavus, higher in pomegranate (DIZ 37mm; MIC 135μg/mL). Powdered peels (5, 10, 20% w/w) were mixed in inoculated rice. The inhibitory effect on fungal-growth and production of aflatoxins by A. flavus was investigated at storage conditions - temperature (25, 30°C) and moisture (18%, 21%) for 9months. The maximum total aflatoxins accumulated at 30°C, 21% moisture and at 25°C, 18% moisture were 265.09 and 163.45ng/g, respectively in control. Addition of pomegranate-peels inhibited aflatoxins production to 100% during four month-storage of rice at 25°C and 18% moisture, while lemon-peels showed similar inhibitory effect for 3months at same conditions. However a linear correlation was observed in aflatoxins level with temperature and moisture. Studies showed that both fruit-wastes are potent preventer of aflatoxin production in rice, useful for a safer and longer storage of rice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Naseer
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Bushra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sultana
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: M Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Naseer
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life & Health Science, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK. Electronic address: p.singh@ulster.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Poonam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nigam
mesh_terms: D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000383:Agriculture; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005504:Food Analysis; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D061353:Food Storage / Q000379:methods*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000517:prevention & control; D012275:Oryza / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D007220:Industrial Waste; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Aflatoxins; Antifungal activity; Aspergillus flavus; Fruit-peels; Rice