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

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 B-1 (AFB(1)) producing strain, A. flavus LHPA(9). Jamrosa EO MIC for A. flavus LHPA(9) and the concentration that suppressed aflatoxin B-1 production was 0.4 mu l ml(-1). This EO was found more efficacious than its major components individually as well as in combination. Z-citral inhibited AFB(1) completely at 1.0 mu l ml(-1) while linalyl acetate did so at 0.7 mu l ml(-1). The combination of both the compounds completely inhibited AFB(1) production at 0.8 mu l ml(-1). Free radical scavenging activities (IC50) of EO, Z-citral, linalyl acetate, and a combination of both compounds were 86 mu l ml(-1), 94 mu l ml(-1), 217 mu l ml(-1), and 158 mu l ml(-1), respectively. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.