Algae as biological detoxificant of aflatoxin produced by Aspergillus flavus isolated from sunflower seed

N Banu

doi:10.17485/ijst/2008/v1i3/3

Abstract

Aspergillus flavus is the widely reported food-borne fungus and the most important mycotoxin source in the world's food supplies. A new approach using algae- Spirulina platensis (blue-green alga), Ulva faciata (green alga) and Sargassum wightii (brown alga) was experimented to control the growth of A. flavus and its aflatoxin B1 production. Among the three algae, S. wightii was found as most suitable biocontrolling agent. The optimum biomass concentration of the alga to detoxify the aflatoxin B1 and inhibition of the fungal mycelial growth was worked out in a controlled condition. An algal biomass of 1.8% (in final concentration) of S. wightii effectively eliminated (100%) aflatoxin B1 and total inhibition of the fungal growth of A. flavus was also achieved concomitantly. The experimental results were encouraging for possible application of algal biomass as biocontrolling agent to recuperate aflatoxin contaminated food and feed commodities.

Highlights

Introduction and the aflatoxinB1 production by the fungus.Aflatoxins are the potent toxic, mutagenic, Materials and methods heterogenic and carcinogenic metabolitesSpirulina platensis, Ulva produced by species of Aspergillus flavus and A. faciata and Sargassum wightii were selected to assess their efficacy to seeds and their products, both at pre- and post- detoxify aflatoxin B1 content produced by A. flavus.harvest conditions
The above algal biomaterials were initially classified as human carcinogens by the dissolved in distilled water to get 3% stock
The green alga U. faciata at both 5 and 10 ml concentrations had not showed any positive control on aflatoxin B1 production compared with S. platensis

Summary

Introduction

Introduction and the aflatoxinB1 production by the fungus.Aflatoxins are the potent toxic, mutagenic, Materials and methods heterogenic and carcinogenic metabolitesSpirulina platensis (blue-green alga), Ulva produced by species of Aspergillus flavus and A. faciata (green alga) and Sargassum wightii (brown parasiticus in food and feed, especially in the oil alga) were selected to assess their efficacy to seeds and their products, both at pre- and post- detoxify aflatoxin B1 content produced by A. flavus.harvest conditions. An algal biomass of 1.8% (in final aflatoxin in food and feedstuffs by many workers concentration) of S. wightii effectively eliminated Addition of higher concentration of the alga (10 ml stock solution) poorly effected the aflatoxin B1 elimination; at the same time mycelial reduction of A. flavus was observed.

Results

Conclusion