Effects of Heracleum persicum ethyl acetate extract on the growth, hyphal ultrastructure and aflatoxin biosynthesis in Aspergillus parasiticus

Abstract

The ethyl acetate extract of leaves, seeds and flowers of Heracleum persicum, a medicinal plant of Iran (family Apiaceae) inhibited growth and aflatoxin (AF) production of Aspergillus parasiticus. On the basis of total dry weight growth inhibition by the leaf extract ranged from 17.1 to 36.9 %, by the flower extract from 32.2 to 75.6 %, and by the seed extract from 27.5 to 74.9 %. Production of AFB1 and AFG1 was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner, with a reduction of 88.5-100 % at the highest concentration of 8,000 μg/ml tested. The flower extract decreased ergosterol content of hyphae most significantly. Electron microscopy further revealed structural defects in the treated A. parasiticus including disruption of cytoplasmic membranous compartments, detachment of plasma membrane from the cell wall, and disorganization of hyphal compartments. Collapsed hyphae without conidiation, shorter branches and undifferentiated hyphal tips were also evident. The results indicate that H. persicum extract exerts antifungal and anti-AF activities by disrupting plasma membrane integrity and permeability mainly through interference with ergosterol biosynthesis. These results show that H. persicum can serve as a potent and safe alternative for inhibiting toxigenic aspergilli growth and thus preventing AF contamination of foods and feeds.

Effects of Supplementation with Heracleum persicum Fruit Extract on Serum Lipids in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography: A Pilot Trial

“…This plant has a long reputation as a natural remedy in the Iranian folk medicine, and its fruits are commonly used as a dietary spice. Heracleum persicum fruits have been reported to contain a diverse range of phytochemicals such as phenolics, flavonoids, triterpernoids, furanocoumarins, alkaloids, tannins, and steroids (Ghodsi, ; Merijanian et al ., ; Razzaghi‐Abyaneh et al ., ). Our previous investigation revealed the first evidence on the potential efficacy of H. persicum fruit extract as adjunct to atorvastatin in lowering serum concentrations of LDL‐C and total cholesterol (Panahi et al , ).…”

How do essential oil composition and phenolic acid profile of Heracleum persicum fluctuate at different phenological stages?

“…According to previous studies, H. persicum have been shown several biological activities, such as antioxidant (Çoruh et al., 2007; Firuzi et al., 2010), anti‐inflammatory, analgesic (Hajhashemi et al., 2009; Majidi & Sadati Lamardi, 2018), antidiabetic (Dehghan et al., 2016), antihyperlipidemic (Dadjo et al., 2015; Hajhashemi et al., 2009), cardioprotective (Panahi et al., 2013), gastroprotective (Majidi & Sadati Lamardi, 2018), neurological (Sayyah et al., 2005), immunomodulatory (Sharififar et al., 2009), hepatoprotective (Majidi & Sadati Lamardi, 2018), antibacterial (Shariatifar et al., 2017), antifungal (Khosravi et al., 2016; Sadeghi Nejad et al., 2014), anticonvulsant (Sayyah et al., 2005), and insecticidal properties (Izakmehri et al., 2013). Recently, different phytochemical compounds such as tannins, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and furanocoumarins were extracted from different parts of H. persicum plants (Razzaghi‐Abyaneh et al., 2013). Among them, the essential oil composition of H. persicum fruits has been widely studied, and the results suggests that the fruit can be considered as a suitable source of essential oils and aliphatic ester compounds (Amanpour et al., 2016; Firuzi et al., 2010; Gharachorloo et al., 2018; Radjabian et al., 2013, 2014; Scheffer et al., 1984).…”

“…Lamardi, 2018), neurological (Sayyah et al, 2005), immunomodulatory (Sharififar et al, 2009), hepatoprotective (Majidi & Sadati Lamardi, 2018), antibacterial (Shariatifar et al, 2017), antifungal (Khosravi et al, 2016;Sadeghi Nejad et al, 2014), anticonvulsant (Sayyah et al, 2005), and insecticidal properties (Izakmehri et al, 2013). Recently, different phytochemical compounds such as tannins, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and furanocoumarins were extracted from different parts of H. persicum plants (Razzaghi-Abyaneh et al, 2013). Among them, the essential oil composition of H. persicum fruits has been widely studied, and the results suggests that the fruit can be considered as a suitable source of essential oils and aliphatic ester compounds (Amanpour et al, 2016;Firuzi et al, 2010;Gharachorloo et al, 2018;Radjabian et al, 2013Radjabian et al, , 2014Scheffer et al, 1984).…”

Guide to Harvesting Heracleum Persicum: How Essential Oil Composition and Phenolic Acid Profile Fluctuate at Different Phenological Stages?

“…Recently, different phytochemical compounds such as tannins, saponins, alkaloids, avonoids, and furanocoumarins were extracted from different parts of H. persicum plants 19 . Among them, the essential oil composition of H. persicum fruits has been widely studied, and the results suggests that the fruit can be considered as a suitable source of essential oils and aliphatic ester compounds 1,8,20,21,22,23 .…”