No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Background: Aspergillus species produce the highly toxic and carcinogenic metabolite, Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), on food and agricultural commodities. Some natural products are known to inhibit aflatoxin production. Objectives: With the aim of controlling aflatoxin production, the essential oils of Cuminum cyminum L. from the best known regions of Iran i.e. Alborz Mountain and Kerman region, were obtained by hydrodistillation. Materials and Methods: Antifungal activities of the oils to inhibit growth and aflatoxin productivity of A. flavus PICC-AF39, A. flavus PICC-AF24, and A. parasiticus NRRL-2999 were studied. Minimal inhibitory (MIC) and minimal fungicidal (MFC) concentrations of the oil were determined. Sub-MIC was selected for the measurement of aflatoxins B and G concentration. Samples were analyzed either using a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with some minor modifications. Aflatoxins (AFs) were determined by reverse-phase HPLC and fluorescence detector with post column derivatization (PCD) involving bromination.

Petroleum hydrocarbon compounds are commonly known as soil and groundwater contaminants. Bacteria need to come in physical contact with these compounds to degrade them. A wide variety of hydrocarbon degradation can be found due to the affinity of a bacterial strain toward a particular hydrocarbon. Due to the similarity in the structure of most of the aromatic hydrocarbon pollutants, it is possible that the bacterial strain showing affinity toward one hydrocarbon reveals an affinity toward other related aromatic hydrocarbons. Whenever there is physical contact between cells and pollutants, biofilm formation and surfactant production can take place for increasing hydrocarbon bioavailability and biodegradation [1]. Volatile monoaromatic hydrocarbons of crude petroleum and petroleum products, which are commonly found together, are benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene [BTEX]. These compounds are dangerous to human

No abstract

No abstract