Isolation and identification of toxigenic and non-toxigenic fungi in samples of medicinal plants from the market

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The consumption of preparations of medicinal plants has been increasing during the last decades in occidental societies. The presence of toxigenic fungi in a plant product may represent a potential risk of contamination, because of aflatoxins and ochratoxins. In this study, 12 samples of medicinal plants were analyzed in relation to the level of fungal contamination, and the presence of producers of ochratoxin A and aflatoxins was assessed by visualization of fungi using a cromatovisor in coconut milk. Most of the species found belong to the genus Cladosporium, Fusarium, Aspergillus and Penicillium. Species producing ochratoxin A were present in 2 samples (16.7%), Melissa and Hibiscus. Species producing aflatoxin were found in samples of Jacaranda decurrens (8.33%). This study suggests that herbs, if stored improperly, can provide the growth of fungi and should be examined before consumption.Key words: Aspergillus. Penicillium. Moulds. Mycotoxin.RESUMO: Isolamento e identificação de fungos toxigênicos e não toxigênicos em amostras plantas medicinais do comércio. O consumo das plantas medicinais vem aumentando nas últimas décadas nas sociedades ocidentais, porém, a presença de fungos toxigênicos nestas plantas pode representar um risco em potencial de contaminação devido à produção de aflatoxinas e ocratoxinas. Neste trabalho, 12 amostras de plantas medicinais foram analisadas em relação ao nível de contaminação por fungos, enquanto a presença de produtores de ocratoxina A e aflatoxinas foi avaliada pela visualização em cromatovisor dos fungos em meio de leite de coco. A maioria das espécies encontradas pertence aos gêneros Cladosporium, Fusarium, Aspergillus e Penicillium. Espécies produtoras de ocratoxina A estavam presentes em 2 amostras (16,7%), Melissa e Hibisco. Espécies produtoras de aflatoxina foram encontradas na amostra de Carobinha (8,33%). Este trabalho sugere que as ervas, sendo armazenadas inadequadamente, proporcionam o crescimento de fungos e, por isso, estes devem ser examinados antes do consumo.Palavras chave: Aspergillus. Penicillium. Fungos. Micotoxinas.

Assessment of Fungi and Mycotoxins Contaminating Antidiabetic Herbs

“…The result showed that 100% of the samples have a fungal colony units above the permissible limit of the World Health Organization, A contamination limit of yeast and molds in medicinal plant was 1 × 10 3 CFU/gm (WHO 2005). These results are consistence with the study conducted by (Pereira et al, 2015;Shakhenib et al, 2011;Abed et al, 2020). In this study Aspergillus fungi recorded the highest level in fungal isolates, this is attributed to its widespread in the environment by ability to produce huge numbers of asexual reproductive units and its ability to grow in all environments and endure bad conditions (Pitt & Hocking, 1997).…”

Implementation of Traditional Medicine Remedies During The COVID-19 Pandemic as Health Improvement and Empowerment of Indonesian Women

“…In the use of dried Simplicia or dry traditional medicinal plants, attention should be focused on the presence of a�latoxin. A�latoxin contamination of this fungal toxin can be a potential carcinogen and a�latoxin is produced from Aspergillus, where Aspergillus can only be damaged at a temperature of 269oC (Pereira et al, 2015).…”