Inhibition of aspergillus flavus link and aflatoxin formation hy essential oils of cinnamomum xeylanicum (L) and cymbopogon nardus rendle

Abstract

The essential oils of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (L.) leaf and Cvmbopoeon nardus Rendle were tested for their fungistatic, fungicidal and qflatoxin suppressing efficacy against an isolate of Aspergillus flavus Link, isolated from rice. The mycelial growth and the aflatoxin formation in SMKY semi synthetic liquid medium in the presence of different concentrations of two test oils were monitored. At concentrations varying from 100 to 500 ppm of the essential oil of C. zeylanicum. the mycelial dry weight decreased from 0.49 to 0.01 g/50 ml. The percentage inhibition of the mycelial growth of A. flavus increased from 50 to 95 when treated with 1000 to 1800 ppm of C. nardus oil. The minimum lethal concentrations (MLCs) for the essential oils of C. zeylanicum leaf and C. nardus were 1000 and 4000 ppm, respectively. Aflutoxins were not present in the medium at or above the concentrations of400 and 600 ppm C zeylanicum leaf and C nardus oils, respectively