title: Use of selected essential oils to control aflatoxin contaminated stored cashew and detection of aflatoxin biosynthesis gene.
abstract: Aspergillus spp. associated with cashew from the regions of Riyadh, Dammam, and Abha were isolated and three different culture media were used to qualitatively measure aflatoxin production by Aspergillus via UV light (365 nm), which was expressed as positive or negative. The obtained data showed that six isolates of A. flavus and four isolates of A. parasiticus were positive for aflatoxin production, while all isolates of A. niger were negative. Five commercially essential oils (thyme, garlic, cinnamon, mint, and rosemary) were tested to determine their influence on growth and aflatoxin production in A. flavus and A. parasiticus by performing high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that the tested essential oils caused highly significant inhibition of fungal growth and aflatoxin production in A. flavus and A. parasiticus. The extent of the inhibition of fungal growth and aflatoxin production was dependent on the type and concentration of essential oils applied. The results indicate that cinnamon and thyme oils show strong antimicrobial potential. PCR was used with four sets of primer pairs for nor-1, omt-1, ver-1, and aflR genes, enclosed in the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway. The interpretation of the results revealed that PCR is a rapid and sensitive method.
authors.affiliation: Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 1145, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abeer R M
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Abd El-Aziz
authors.affiliation: Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza 12619, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
authors.affiliation: Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 1145, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Monira R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Al-Othman
authors.affiliation: Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 1145, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Munirah F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Al-Gahtani
mesh_terms: D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D000498:Allyl Compounds; D031021:Anacardium; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000737:chemistry*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005453:Fluorescence; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D027541:Mentha; D009754:Nuts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D013045:Species Specificity; D013440:Sulfides; D046930:Thymus Plant
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; D000498:Allyl Compounds; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D017931:DNA Primers; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D013440:Sulfides; C510046:cinnamon oil, bark; C038491:allyl sulfide; C053775:rosemary oil