Antifungal Activity of Menthol, Eugenol and Their Combination against <i>Aspergillus ochraceus</i> and <i>Aspergillus niger</i> In Vitro and in Stored Cereals
<i>Aspergillus ochraceus</i> and <i>Aspergillus niger</i> are spoilage and mycotoxin-producing fungi that can contaminate agricultural commodities and derived products. In the present study, menthol, eugenol, and their combination (mix 1:1) were tested to determine their cont...
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/11/2108 |
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| author | Yamina Ben Miri Ahmed Nouasri Marta Herrera Djamel Djenane Agustín Ariño |
| author_facet | Yamina Ben Miri Ahmed Nouasri Marta Herrera Djamel Djenane Agustín Ariño |
| author_sort | Yamina Ben Miri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Aspergillus ochraceus</i> and <i>Aspergillus niger</i> are spoilage and mycotoxin-producing fungi that can contaminate agricultural commodities and derived products. In the present study, menthol, eugenol, and their combination (mix 1:1) were tested to determine their contact and fumigation toxicity against the two fungi. Menthol, eugenol, and their mixture significantly reduced mycelial growth and spore germination at concentrations from 300 to 600 µg/mL, and the inhibitory effects showed clear dose dependence. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against <i>A. ochraceus</i> were 500 µg/mL (menthol), 400 µg/mL (eugenol), and 300 µg/mL (mix 1:1), while the MIC values for <i>A. niger</i> were 500 µg/mL (menthol), 600 µg/mL (eugenol), and 400 µg/mL (mix 1:1). Additionally, the analyzed compounds exhibited more than 50% protection against <i>A. ochraceus</i> and <i>A. niger</i> by fumigation of stored cereal grains (maize, barley, and rice) in sealed containers. The binary mixture of menthol and eugenol showed synergistic effects against both fungi in both in vitro direct contact and stored grain fumigation trials. The results of the present study provide a scientific basis for the application of a combination of natural antifungals in food preservation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:08:04Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:08:04Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj.art-e8d6fd1fec58495baa88f84d871b14b92023-11-18T07:50:23ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582023-05-011211210810.3390/foods12112108Antifungal Activity of Menthol, Eugenol and Their Combination against <i>Aspergillus ochraceus</i> and <i>Aspergillus niger</i> In Vitro and in Stored CerealsYamina Ben Miri0Ahmed Nouasri1Marta Herrera2Djamel Djenane3Agustín Ariño4Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Mohamed Boudiaf University, P.O. Box 166, M’sila 28000, AlgeriaLaboratory of Bioactive Products and Biomass Valorization Research, ENS Kouba, P.O. Box 92, Vieux-Kouba, Algiers 16308, AlgeriaFacultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, 50013 Zaragoza, SpainFood Quality and Safety Research Laboratory, Department of Food Sciences, Mouloud Mammeri University, P.O. Box 17, Tizi-Ouzou 15000, AlgeriaFacultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain<i>Aspergillus ochraceus</i> and <i>Aspergillus niger</i> are spoilage and mycotoxin-producing fungi that can contaminate agricultural commodities and derived products. In the present study, menthol, eugenol, and their combination (mix 1:1) were tested to determine their contact and fumigation toxicity against the two fungi. Menthol, eugenol, and their mixture significantly reduced mycelial growth and spore germination at concentrations from 300 to 600 µg/mL, and the inhibitory effects showed clear dose dependence. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against <i>A. ochraceus</i> were 500 µg/mL (menthol), 400 µg/mL (eugenol), and 300 µg/mL (mix 1:1), while the MIC values for <i>A. niger</i> were 500 µg/mL (menthol), 600 µg/mL (eugenol), and 400 µg/mL (mix 1:1). Additionally, the analyzed compounds exhibited more than 50% protection against <i>A. ochraceus</i> and <i>A. niger</i> by fumigation of stored cereal grains (maize, barley, and rice) in sealed containers. The binary mixture of menthol and eugenol showed synergistic effects against both fungi in both in vitro direct contact and stored grain fumigation trials. The results of the present study provide a scientific basis for the application of a combination of natural antifungals in food preservation.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/11/2108mentholeugenolsynergistic effectantifungalcereals |
| spellingShingle | Yamina Ben Miri Ahmed Nouasri Marta Herrera Djamel Djenane Agustín Ariño Antifungal Activity of Menthol, Eugenol and Their Combination against <i>Aspergillus ochraceus</i> and <i>Aspergillus niger</i> In Vitro and in Stored Cereals Foods menthol eugenol synergistic effect antifungal cereals |
| title | Antifungal Activity of Menthol, Eugenol and Their Combination against <i>Aspergillus ochraceus</i> and <i>Aspergillus niger</i> In Vitro and in Stored Cereals |
| title_full | Antifungal Activity of Menthol, Eugenol and Their Combination against <i>Aspergillus ochraceus</i> and <i>Aspergillus niger</i> In Vitro and in Stored Cereals |
| title_fullStr | Antifungal Activity of Menthol, Eugenol and Their Combination against <i>Aspergillus ochraceus</i> and <i>Aspergillus niger</i> In Vitro and in Stored Cereals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antifungal Activity of Menthol, Eugenol and Their Combination against <i>Aspergillus ochraceus</i> and <i>Aspergillus niger</i> In Vitro and in Stored Cereals |
| title_short | Antifungal Activity of Menthol, Eugenol and Their Combination against <i>Aspergillus ochraceus</i> and <i>Aspergillus niger</i> In Vitro and in Stored Cereals |
| title_sort | antifungal activity of menthol eugenol and their combination against i aspergillus ochraceus i and i aspergillus niger i in vitro and in stored cereals |
| topic | menthol eugenol synergistic effect antifungal cereals |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/11/2108 |
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