Fungal and aflatoxin contamination of medicinal herbs

Rizzo, I.; Varsavsky, Edith; Vedoya, G.; Haidukowski, Miriam; Frade, H.; Chiale, C.

doi:10.1007/bf02945093

Cited by 7 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 3 publications

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“…Some of these fungal contaminants are toxigenic in nature that involve potential hazard to human and animal health. Aspergillusflavus is the most important fungi, as it produces aflatoxins, a group of extremely toxic substances that exhibit acute or chronic hepatotoxicity and is a potent carcinogen and mutagen (Rizzo et al 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mycological Analysis and Aflatoxin B1contaminant Estimation of Herbal Drug Raw Materials

Rajeshwari

Raveesha

2016

Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med

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Background: The present study explores the fungal contamination of important herbal drug raw materials (HDRM), which are widely used in the preparation of many herbal drugs. Understanding of the microbial contamination status of HDRM is one of the important steps to ensure the safety and efficacy of herbal drugs. Materials and Methods: Eighteen samples of six herbal drug raw materials (HDRM) viz., Acorus calamus Linn., Cassia angustifolia Vahl., Centella asiatica (Linn.) Urban, Myristica fragrans Houtt.,Tinospora cardifolia (Wild) Miers and Withania somnifera (Linn.) Dunal, were screened for fungal contamination, by employing serial dilution method. All the isolates of Aspergillus flavus were screened for their ability to produce aflatoxin B1 (AB1) and highly contaminated samples were subjected to AB1 estimation by using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), spectrophotometric method and occurrence of Aflatoxin B1 was confirmed by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry analysis (LCMS). Results: A total of 302 isolates of 42 fungal species belonging to 17 genera were found in association with test the samples. More than 61% of A. flavus isolates tested positive for production of AB1 and highest yield recorded was 5008.20 ppb from the isolates of T. cordifolia. Amongthesix highly contaminated samples three samples tested positive for AB1. Highest AB1 was recorded from T. cordifolia (104.19 µg/kg), followed by A. calamus (13.73 µg/kg) and M. fragrans (12.02 µg/kg). Conclusion: Assessment of fungal and mycotoxin contamination should be a part of the quality check while selecting HDRM for manufacture of herbal products. Safeprocessing and storage practices are necessary.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mycological Analysis and Aflatoxin B1contaminant Estimation of Herbal Drug Raw Materials

Rajeshwari

Raveesha

2016

Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med

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Mycotoxicological control on raw material and tablets of cascara sagrada (Rhamnus purshiana)

Rizzo¹,

Varsavsky²,

Vedoya³

et al. 1999

Mycotox Res

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Among phytotherapic medicines, tablets of cascara sagrada (Rhamnus purshiana) dried bark, usually used as laxative, are commercially widespread in our market. Taking into account natural origin and/or inappropriate procedures that may allow the occurrence of toxinogenic Aspergillus flavus group, a study on susceptibility to aflatoxin contamination and natural aflatoxin incidence was performed by TLC and HPLC methods. This survey allows one to conclude that bark of Cascara Sagrada is a good substrate for the growth of A. parasiticus NRRL 2999 and for aflatoxins production. Natural anatoxins presence was detected on 2 from 9 raw material samples. One of them (irradiated sample) had only aflatoxin B1 (10 μg/kg) and the other (pasteurized) was positive for aflatoxin B1 (19 μg/kg); G1 (6 μg/kg) and B2 (1.46 μg/kg). Only one from 10 lots of tablets analyzed was positive for aflatoxin B1 (5.42 μg/kg) and B2 (0.32 μg/kg).Therefore, adequate quality control including an aflatoxins assay must be performed to guarantee the harmlessness of natural drugs.

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Occurrence of Stachybotrys chartarum chemotype S in dried culinary herbs

et al. 2014

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Stachybotrys (S.) chartarum is an omnipresent cellulolytic mould which produces secondary metabolites, such as the highly toxic macrocyclic trichothecenes. While it is known to occur in animal feed like hay and straw as well as in water-damaged indoor environments, there is little knowledge about the occurrence of S. chartarum and its secondary metabolites in food. The objective of the present study was to examine selected dried culinary herbs for the presence of S. chartarum chemotype S, to assess the potential risk of a contamination of foods with macrocyclic trichothecenes. In total, 50 Stachybotrys isolates from different types of culinary herbs (n=100) such as marjoram (Origanum majorana Linné (L.)), oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), and savory (Satureja hortensis L.) were examined by MTT-cell culture test (effect-based bioassay), ELISA, and by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Selected toxic and non-toxic isolates (n=15) were genetically characterized by PCR and sequencing. Five isolates (10%) were highly toxic in the MTT-cell culture test, and the production of macrocyclic trichothecenes was proven by ELISA and LC-MS/MS. These five isolates were genetically confirmed as S. chartarum chemotype S. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report about a contamination of dried culinary herbs with toxigenic S. chartarum.

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Fungal and aflatoxin contamination of medicinal herbs

Cited by 7 publications

References 3 publications

Mycological Analysis and Aflatoxin B1contaminant Estimation of Herbal Drug Raw Materials

Mycological Analysis and Aflatoxin B1contaminant Estimation of Herbal Drug Raw Materials

Mycotoxicological control on raw material and tablets of cascara sagrada (Rhamnus purshiana)

Occurrence of Stachybotrys chartarum chemotype S in dried culinary herbs

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