Inhibitory effect of C. zeylanicum, C. longa, O. basilicum, Z. officinale, and C. martini essential oils on growth and ochratoxin A content of A. ochraceous and P. verrucosum in maize grains

In the study, antifungal and ochratoxin A (OTA) production inhibitory activities of essential oils (EOs) of Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Curcuma longa, Ocimum basilicum, Zingiber officinale, and Cymbopogon martini were reported on Aspergillus ochraceus and Penicillium verrucosum. EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation and GC-MS technique was chosen to deduce their chemical profile. Major chemical compounds in EOs of C. zeylanicum, C. longa, O. basilicum, Z. officinale, and C. martini were (E)-cinnamaldehyde (35.81 %), ar-turmerone (46.13 %), eugenol (36.58 %), geranyl proprionate (18.93 %), and geranyl acetate (14.88 %), respectively. The EOs shown potent antioxidant activity by DPPH and ABTS assays. The EOs presented superlative antifungal activity against P. verrucosum related to A. ochraceus. The C. zeylanicum and C. martini EOs shown superlative antifungal activity related to other EOs. The C. zeylanicum and C. martini EOs completely inhibited the growth and OTA production of P. verrucosum and A. ochraceous at 1500 and 2500 μg/g in maize grains, respectively.

Keywords: Essential oils; Fungi; Maize grains; Mycotoxins; Ochratoxin A.