Antimycotic and antiaflatoxigenic potency of Adenocalymma alliaceum Miers. on fungi causing biodeterioration of food commodities and raw herbal drugs

This study characterized the antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic efficacy of an aqueous extract of Adenocalymma alliaceum against fungal isolates that cause biodeterioration of cereal grains, legume seeds, dry fruits, fresh fruits, and raw herbal drugs during storage and transportation. Fungal species that cause biodeterioration were isolated from stored food and drug commodities by serial dilutions. A poisoned food technique was adopted to assess fungitoxicity of the plant extract against fungal isolates. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of extracts against two dominant storage fungi, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger, were superior to those of two commonly used synthetic fungicides. Aflatoxin B1 synthesis was inhibited at low extract concentrations in SMKY medium. Germination of legume seeds was unaffected by the extract application but rather seedling growth was enhanced. Hence the aqueous extract of A. alliaceum possessed a wide spectrum of fungitoxicity against fungi associated with deterioration of food commodities and herbal drugs. In addition, it possessed antiaflatoxigenic activity and was non-phytotoxic.