Fungal and Mycotoxin Contamination of Herbal Raw Materials and Prospects of Higher Plant Products as Plant-Based Preservatives During Post-Harvest Processing

Author(s):  
Nawal Kishore Dubey ◽  
Prashant Kumar Mishra ◽  
Akash Kedia ◽  
Bhanu Prakash
Author(s):  
Gilbert Zechia Mofor ◽  
Nadine Yemelong Temgoua ◽  
Ndamsa Dickson Thomas

The use of durable forest resources in urban areas has raised the question of link between conservation and usage patterns. Population growth in Cameroon urban areas has continued to trigger constant demand for forest resources notably for rattan resources. Owing to the thriving domestic use and trade indicators, it is observed that, the furniture processors have been experiencing considerable demand of rattan products. It was pathetic to observe that, though the whole chain of rattan dependable activities have become an integral part of livelihood strategy for many urban communities, it is without any regulatory rearmament. Such scenario has until recently been ostensibly clear that in Bamenda town is an epitome for non-awareness of the exact species used, ecological attitudes, post-harvest losses, innovative technologies and trade letdown. In the context of such lack of awareness, most socioeconomic and conservation benchmarks have remained trapped in inappropriate operations. It is in this light that, Bamenda town displays a range of concerns about the rattan resources management stakes and challenges. Thus, the main objective of this paper attempts to harness suitable socioeconomic and ecological strategies to ensure sustainability with significant potential for the rattan sources to the thriving investors’ livelihood. The study therefore, explores the stakeholders’ treasure on rattan resources derivatives and perceptions on conservation and socioeconomic standing in Bamenda town, which is a heavily dealing place. The study made use of primary and secondary sources to collect necessary data. The results indicate that, they are a chain of rattan resource investors, multiples sources of raw materials and local rattan workspaces. In addition, the paper established that, there are no conservation awareness and visions, no innovative technologies, insufficient basic knowledge about self-regulatory mechanism for informal trade on a sound rattan management as well as no veritable institutional support structures to strengthen the rattan sector. Therefore, imperiling this activity into a blur future given the gaps observed in the sector. Based on these challenges, the study has proposed pertinent concerns, which have some supportive regimented policies to awareness, sustainable conservation, production and trading trends management for livelihood of the rattan dealers in Bamenda town and beyond.


Author(s):  
Kayode David Ileke ◽  
Jacobs Mobolade Adesina ◽  
Emmanuel Oluwaseun Obajulaye

<em>Sitophilus zeamais</em> Motschulsky infestation causes severe post-harvest losses of cereal grains in Nigeria leading to major nutritional and economic losses. A laboratory study was conducted to determine the efficacy of <em>Myrcianthes fragrans</em> and <em>Aframomum melegueta</em> seed powders and methanol extract as well as their synergetic effects on <em>S. zeamais</em>. The ability of the plant products to protect maize grain against <em>S. zeamais</em> infestation was assessed in terms of mortality 24 to 96 h posttreatment, oviposition, and adult emergence, weight loss and grains damage. <em>M. fragrans</em> and <em>A. melegueta</em> products significantly cause adult mortality of <em>S. zeamais</em>. <em>M. fragrans</em> products were the most toxic as it evoked 100% adult mortality within 24 h of application while<em> A. melegueta</em> products evoked 100% mortality of <em>S. zeamais</em> at 48 and 72 h post treatment, respectively. The synergetic effects of the plant products caused 100% adult mortality at 48 and 72 h post-treatment, respectively. Oviposition, adult emergence, weight loss and damage of the maize grains treated with the plant products were completely inhibited compared with untreated grains. The results obtained revealed that 2 g and 2% sole application of <em>M. fragrans</em> and mixed application of <em>M. fragrans</em> and <em>A. melegueta</em> products were effective in controlling <em>Sitophilus zeamais</em> post-harvest infestation and grain damage and could serve as an alternative to synthetic insecticide in ensuring steady supply of maize grains, thus ensuring food security as the plants are of medicinal and nutritional quality.


2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Schatzmayr ◽  
E. Streit

Mycotoxins are ubiquitously present in agricultural commodities, such as cereals and oil seeds. If ingested in sufficiently high concentrations, they exert severe toxic effects in humans and animals. In 2004, a survey programme was launched to assess the extent of mycotoxin contamination in feed and feed raw materials. Since then, over 19,000 samples have been analysed and more than 70,000 individual analyses have been conducted. While it is difficult to infer any long-term trends on a global level, the data confirm that high mycotoxin contamination is often linked to unusual weather. Overall, 72% of the samples contained detectable amounts of aflatoxins, fumonisins, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone or ochratoxin A. Co-contamination with two or more mycotoxins was detected in 38% of the samples. In most cases the concentrations were low enough to ensure compliance with EU guidance values or maximum levels. However, co-contaminated samples with concentrations below guidance and maximum values might still exert adverse effects due to synergistic interactions of the mycotoxins. Emerging mycotoxins and masked mycotoxins may also contribute to the overall toxicity of the feed and their presence is frequently detected with multi-mycotoxin LC-MS/MS. Since by-product feeds, such as distillers dried grain with solubles, often concentrate the mycotoxins of the original substrate, they contribute excessively to the overall contamination of feed rations and therefore need special attention. Regarding food the situation is quite similar: low level contamination is frequently observed in official controls but maximum levels are rarely exceeded in developed countries. As it is very difficult to remove mycotoxins from contaminated commodities, preventing them from accumulation in agricultural commodities is the most effective strategy to combat the problem. Preventive measures range from crop rotation and resistance breeding to inoculation with microbial antagonists. Nevertheless, excessive mycotoxin levels may occur despite all preventive measures. Therefore, continuous monitoring is essential and efficient detoxification strategies are needed to deal with such outbreaks.


2013 ◽  
Vol 58 (No. 8) ◽  
pp. 405-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Milani

Spoilage fungi are ubiquitous contaminants of cereals, pre- and post-harvest. These fungi can produce a wide range of secondary metabolites under ecological conditions which are conducive for growth. However, some of these secondary metabolites are toxic and have a significant impact if they enter the production and animal food chains. Prevention of mycotoxin contamination of feed and food raw materials is now considered more important than subsequent cure. The key ecological determinants pre- and post-harvest are water availability and temperature (climate). Accurate information is therefore needed on the impact of an association between these key factors, and it is necessary to understand which are marginal and which critical for germination and toxin production. There have only been a few studies where attempts have been made to integrate the available information on these factors in relation to different raw materials for feed and food processing, especially cereals. This review will examine the available information on the main climatic factors, i.e., water availability and temperature affecting mycotoxin production such as, aflatoxins, ochratoxins, fumonisins, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol and citrinin. This information is crucial for accurately focusing and monitoring key critical control points in the feed and food chain to optimise prevention strategies. &nbsp;


2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Zaker

The use of chemical pesticides for controlling various plant diseases is still a common practice especially in developing countries. Although with the application of chemical fungicides, plant diseases can be controlled but the hazardous impacts of such products in human health and environment are well known. Moreover, with their excess applications pest resistance may exist. Natural plant products have been found effective in plant disease managements and could be safely incorporated as suitable alternatives for synthetic fungicides. It is estimated that there are more than 250,000 higher plant species on earth that can be evaluated for their antimicrobial bioactive chemical compounds. During last several decades researchers have evaluated plant extracts and oils against plant pathogens, valuable results have been achieved and some commercially botanical formulations have been prepared and marketed. If we are supposed to move toward production of safer agricultural products, more attention and effort are still needed for production of more commercially botanical fungicides in the near future. The organic agriculture cannot rely on a limited number of commercially pesticides of natural origin, therefore it seems that more researches in formulating more commercially botanical products as fungicides are still needed.The Agriculturists 2016; 14(1) 134-141


Sugarcane is a primary crop in many parts of India. The seed or bud of the sugarcane is a part of the plant itself. Due to complicated and expensive tools, separating bud from the plant is a difficult process. Use of plant for its raw materials and products leads to loss of buds whereas planting buds with the plant leads to loss of plant products. Current machines used for sugarcane bud cutting require skill and training but are also unsafe. The risk of injury is also high. Thus, there is a need for the development of the bud chipping machine which satisfies the above criterion. The research was done by conducting a literature survey, patent search, and market survey. Designing and modeling of machine is carried out by considering aspects of design and human ergonomics. Hence, the simple and effective machine is designed which can be used to cut sugarcane buds without much effort, reduced loss of plant product, reduced muscular problems and can be safely operated.


2022 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
pp. 102257
Author(s):  
Bijendra Kumar Singh ◽  
Shikha Tiwari ◽  
Akash Maurya ◽  
Susheel Kumar ◽  
Nawal Kishore Dubey

Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Agriopoulou ◽  
Eygenia Stamatelopoulou ◽  
Theodoros Varzakas

Mycotoxins are toxic substances that can infect many foods with carcinogenic, genotoxic, teratogenic, nephrotoxic, and hepatotoxic effects. Mycotoxin contamination of foodstuffs causes diseases worldwide. The major classes of mycotoxins that are of the greatest agroeconomic importance are aflatoxins, ochratoxins, fumonisins, trichothecenes, emerging Fusarium mycotoxins, enniatins, ergot alkaloids, Alternaria toxins, and patulin. Thus, in order to mitigate mycotoxin contamination of foods, many control approaches are used. Prevention, detoxification, and decontamination of mycotoxins can contribute in this purpose in the pre-harvest and post-harvest stages. Therefore, the purpose of the review is to elaborate on the recent advances regarding the occurrence of main mycotoxins in many types of important agricultural products, as well as the methods of inactivation and detoxification of foods from mycotoxins in order to reduce or fully eliminate them.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Portell ◽  
Carol Verheecke-Vaessen ◽  
Rosa Torrelles-Ràfales ◽  
Angel Medina ◽  
Wilfred Otten ◽  
...  

Fusarium causes significant post-harvest quality losses and mycotoxin contamination in stored wheat but the colonisation dynamics of the grain and how this may be affected by the initial inoculum position in the grain mass is poorly understood. This study examined the 3D growth kinetics and mycotoxin production (deoxynivalenol and zearalenone) by F. graminearum during hyphal colonisation from different initial inoculum positions in wheat microcosms (top-centre, bottom-centre, and bottom-side) maintained at two water activities (aw; 0.95 and 0.97). Clear jars were used to visually follow the colonisation dynamics. Fungal respiration and associated dry matter loss (DML) and ergosterol were also quantified. Colonisation dynamics was shown to be affected by the inoculation position. At the end of the colonisation process, fungal respiration and DML were driven by the inoculation position, and the latter also by the prevailing aw. Fungal biomass (ergosterol) was mainly affected by the aw. The initial inoculum position did not affect the relative mycotoxin production. There was a positive correlation between respiration and ergosterol, and between mycotoxin production and colonisation indicators. We suggest that spatially explicit predictive models can be used to better understand the colonisation patterns and mycotoxin contamination of stored cereal commodities and to aid more effective post-harvest management.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document