scholarly journals A Review on Mycotoxin in Dried Herbs

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Abdela B
Keyword(s):  
Water Activity ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Microbial Contamination ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Foodborne Diseases ◽  
Environmental Condition ◽  
Severe Damage ◽  
Fungal Toxin ◽  
Physical Conditions ◽  
Liver And Kidney

Herbs can be used in different forms such as fresh and dried. A mycotoxin is the greatest concern in the case of dried herbs, due to their low water activity, microbial contamination may persist in these products, and thus, herbs can be sources of outbreaks of foodborne diseases. The toxigenic fungal compounds called mycotoxin are poisonous substances produced by different species of fungus. Three major genera of fungus are identified to produce mycotoxins: they include Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium. Although other genera also produce these toxigenic compounds. The presence of mycotoxins in dried herbs poses health risks ranging from mild to severe damage to the liver and kidney. Fungal toxicity could be prevented by controlling the environmental condition that influences fungal growth, which is by controlling the physical conditions of the dried herbs and by the use of mold inhibitors and anti-cracking additives. The control of the toxigenic compounds could also be by removing the suspected dried herbs with a fungal toxin or by the addition of the toxin binder to the ratio of the dried herbs.

scholarly journals Effect of Temperature, Water Activity and Carbon Dioxide on Fungal Growth and Mycotoxin Production of Acclimatised Isolates of Fusarium verticillioides and F. graminearum

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ladi Peter Mshelia ◽  
Jinap Selamat ◽  
Nik Iskandar Putra Samsudin ◽  
Mohd Y. Rafii ◽  
Noor-Azira Abdul Mutalib ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Elevated Temperature ◽  
Water Activity ◽  
Fusarium Verticillioides ◽  
Fumonisin B1 ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Mycotoxin Production ◽  
Co2 Levels

Climate change is primarily manifested by elevated temperature and carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and is projected to provide suitable cultivation grounds for pests and pathogens in the otherwise unsuitable regions. The impacts of climate change have been predicted in many parts of the world, which could threaten global food safety and food security. The aim of the present work was therefore to examine the interacting effects of water activity (aw) (0.92, 0.95, 0.98 aw), CO2 (400, 800, 1200 ppm) and temperature (30, 35 °C and 30, 33 °C for Fusarium verticillioides and F. graminearum, respectively) on fungal growth and mycotoxin production of acclimatised isolates of F. verticillioides and F. graminearum isolated from maize. To determine fungal growth, the colony diameters were measured on days 1, 3, 5, and 7. The mycotoxins produced were quantified using a quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometer (QTOF-MS) combined with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) system. For F. verticillioides, the optimum conditions for growth of fumonisin B1 (FB1), and fumonisin B2 (FB2) were 30 °C + 0.98 aw + 400 ppm CO2. These conditions were also optimum for F. graminearum growth, and zearalenone (ZEA) and deoxynivalenol (DON) production. Since 30 °C and 400 ppm CO2 were the baseline treatments, it was hence concluded that the elevated temperature and CO2 levels tested did not seem to significantly impact fungal growth and mycotoxin production of acclimatised Fusarium isolates. To the best of our knowledge thus far, the present work described for the first time the effects of simulated climate change conditions on fungal growth and mycotoxin production of acclimatised isolates of F. verticillioides and F. graminearum.

scholarly journals Public Health Risks Associated with Heavy Metal and Microbial Contamination of Drinking Water in Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (20) ◽  
pp. 3982
Author(s):  
Paul J Molino ◽  
Richard Bentham ◽  
Michael J Higgins ◽  
Jason Hinds ◽  
Harriet Whiley
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Lead Exposure ◽  
Microbial Contamination ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Public Health Burden ◽  
Public Health Risks ◽  
Piping Systems ◽  
The Impact

Recently in Australia concerns have been raised regarding the contamination of municipal drinking water supplies with lead. This is of particular concern to children due to the impact of lead exposure on cognitive development and as such these findings have received much media attention. The response from legislators has been swift, and The Victorian School Building Authority has announced that all new schools and school upgrade works will only use lead-free tapware and piping systems. However, while the immediate replacement of lead-containing brass fittings may seem a logical and obvious response, it does not consider the potential implications on microbial contamination. This is particularly concerning given the increasing public health threat posed by opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens (OPPPs). This commentary explores this public health risk of lead exposure from plumbing materials compared to the potential public health risks from OPPPs. Non-tuberculous mycobacterium was chosen as the example OPPP, and the influence on plumbing material and its public health burden in Australia is explored. This commentary highlights the need for future research into the influence of plumbing material on OPPPs prior to any changes in legislation regarding plumbing material.

Water Activity and Temperature Effects on Fungal Growth and Ochratoxin A Production by Ochratoxigenic Aspergillus carbonarius Isolated from Tunisian Grapes

2010 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. M89-M97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salma Lasram ◽  
Souheib Oueslati ◽  
Ana Valero ◽  
Sonia Marin ◽  
Abdelwahed Ghorbel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ochratoxin A ◽  
Water Activity ◽  
Temperature Effects ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Aspergillus Carbonarius

Desiccation tolerance of dauers of entomopathogenic nematodes of the genus Steinernema

Nematology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 451-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prakaijan Nimkingrat ◽  
Felix Uhlmann ◽  
Olaf Strauch ◽  
Ralf-Udo Ehlers
Keyword(s):  
Water Activity ◽  
Desiccation Tolerance ◽  
Entomopathogenic Nematodes ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Stress Conditions ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Energy Reserves ◽  
Poly Ethylene Glycol ◽  
Tolerant Species ◽  
Poly Ethylene

For transport of entomopathogenic nematodes to the user, developmentally arrested dauer juveniles (DJ) are mixed with inert carriers at high density. If quiescence is not induced, DJ will quickly lose energy reserves and die. To induce quiescence DJ can be moderately desiccated. This study investigated the desiccation tolerance by measurement of water activity (-value) tolerated by 50% of populations (WA50) of different Steinernema species and strains. DJ were tested with or without prior adaptation to desiccation stress. Stress conditions were produced by exposure to various concentrations of poly(ethylene glycol) 600. Significant differences in desiccation tolerance were recorded between strains and species, but, except for Steinernema abbasi, not within strains of one species. Without adaptation to stress conditions, the most tolerant species was S. carpocapsae (WA50 = 0.836) followed by S. abbasi (0.86). Adaption to stress by exposure to an -value of 0.95 for 48 h increased tolerance to 0.68 and 0.66, respectively. The least tolerant species were S. kraussei, S. glaseri and S. ethiopiense. Tolerance recorded would allow storage at a water activity that would inhibit growth of bacteria but not of fungi. Analysis of water activity tolerated by only 10% of the population indicated potential for genetic improvement by selective breeding for S. carpocapsae, S. abbasi and S. arenarium to reach water activity levels that would also inhibit fungal growth.

scholarly journals Growth and toxin production of phomopsin A and ochratoxin A forming fungi under different storage conditions in a pea (Pisum sativum) model system

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgitta Maria Kunz ◽  
Laura Pförtner ◽  
Stefan Weigel ◽  
Sascha Rohn ◽  
Anselm Lehmacher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ochratoxin A ◽  
Water Activity ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Toxin Production ◽  
Storage Conditions ◽  
Grain Legumes ◽  
Model System ◽  
Relative Air Humidity ◽  
Phomopsis Leptostromiformis ◽  
Elevated Water

AbstractPhomopsins are mycotoxins mainly infesting lupines, with phomopsin A (PHOA) being the main mycotoxin. PHOA is produced by Diaporthe toxica, formerly assigned as toxigenic Phomopsis leptostromiformis, causing infections in lupine plants and harvested seeds. However, Diaporthe species may also grow on other grain legumes, similar to Aspergillus westerdijkiae as an especially potent ochratoxin A (OTA) producer. Formation of PHOA and OTA was investigated on whole field peas as model system to assess fungal growth and toxin production at adverse storage conditions. Field pea samples were inoculated with the two fungal strains at two water activity (aw) values of 0.94 and 0.98 and three different levels of 30, 50, and 80% relative air humidity.After 14 days at an aw value of 0.98, the fungi produced 4.49 to 34.3 mg/kg PHOA and 1.44 to 3.35 g/kg OTA, respectively. Strains of D. toxica also tested showed higher PHOA concentrations of 28.3 to 32.4 mg/kg.D. toxica strains did not grow or produce PHOA at an aw values of 0.94, while A. westerdijkiae still showed growth and OTA production.Elevated water activity has a major impact both on OTA and, even more pronouncedly, on PHOA formation and thus, proper drying and storage of lupins as well as other grain legumes is crucial for product safety.

Evaluation of Antifungal Activity of Carbonate Solvent – Part:1

2021 ◽  
Vol 116 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Sathish ◽  
D. Seeniammal ◽  
R. Poornima ◽  
J. Raghava Rao
Keyword(s):  
Antifungal Activity ◽  
Mixed Culture ◽  
Propylene Carbonate ◽  
Microbial Contamination ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Fungistatic Activity ◽  
Chrome Tanning ◽  
Tanning Process ◽  
Broth Dilution

Antimicrobial agents have been used in leather manufacturing to prevent leather products from microbial contamination. In this work, the antifungal activity of green solvent such as propylene carbonate was investigated against the mixed culture of fungi isolated from wet-blue using broth dilution/well diffusion. A concentration of 5% and above (propylene carbonate) showed effective antifungal activity against the mixed culture of fungi and the efficiency of propylene carbonate on the mixed culture increased with increasing concentration/volume. Propylene carbonate exhibited fungistatic activity against the mixed culture of fungi but it lost its activity after a certain period and fungal growth was observed again.  It was also found that 2% propylene carbonate in chrome tanning process effectively inhibited the fungal growth and the wet-blue can be preserved up to 30 days without any fungal attack.

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