Potential of Melodorum fruticosum Lour. essential oil against aflatoxigenic Aspergillus strains

Abstract

The essential oil from Melodorum fruticosum Lour was investigated for an inhibitory effect on the mycelial growth, sporulation and production of aflatoxin B1 by Aspergillus flavus IMI 242684 and Aspergillus parasiticus IMI 283883. Essential oil of Melodorum fruticosum Lour. obtained by hydrodistillation extraction, significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited both sporulation and aflatoxin production by these two Aspergillus strains and also reduced mycelial growth. Essential oil of Melodorum fruticosum Lour. at 1000 ppm showed the inhibition activities on mycelial growth ( > 50 %) more than sporulation and aflatoxin B1 production by poison food technique. The IC50 of mycelial growth, sporulation and aflatoxin production were 812.64- 826.61 ppm, 1,358.59-1,412.43 ppm and 1,043.84-1,302.08 ppm, respectively.