Antifungal, anti-aflatoxigenic, and antioxidant efficacy of Jamrosa essential oil for preservation of herbal raw materials

Abstract

This study reports on fungal deterioration of five herbal raw materials and the antifungal, anti-aflatoxigenic, and antioxidant efficacy of Jamrosa essential oil (EO) and its two major components. Herbal raw materials were found associated with 14 fungal species, including strains of aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus flavus. Jamrosa EO and its major components Z-citral and linalyl acetate were assessed against the highest aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) producing strain, A. flavus LHPA9. Jamrosa EO MIC for A. flavus LHPA9 and the concentration that suppressed aflatoxin B1 production was 0.4 μl ml−1. This EO was found more efficacious than its major components individually as well as in combination. Z-citral inhibited AFB1 completely at 1.0 μl ml−1 while linalyl acetate did so at 0.7 μl ml−1. The combination of both the compounds completely inhibited AFB1 production at 0.8 μl ml−1. Free radical scavenging activities (IC50) of EO, Z-citral, linalyl acetate, and a combination of both compounds were 86 μl ml−1, 94 μl ml−1, 217 μl ml−1, and 158 μl ml−1, respectively.