Monitoring of anti-aflatoxgenic activity of medicinal plants against Aspergillus flavus to protect stored layer hens feed

ABSTRACT

Medicinal plants Ficus religiosa, Citrus paradisi, Vitis vinifera, Ficus benghalensis, Gardenia radicans, Ziziphus Jujuba, Morus alba, Punica granatum, and Psidium guajava were evaluated for their anti-aflatoxigenic activities. The layer hens feed contaminated with A. flavus was treated with plant leaves at different concentrations and feed was stored at 28°C and 16% moisture level for 6 months and subjected to aflatoxins B1 and B2 (AFB1, AFB2) monitoring. P. granatum and M. alba showed 100% inhibition. Both types of AFs were not detected up to 180 days. Z. Jujuba, V. vinifera and F. benghalensis controlled AFB2 completely; however, at the end of 180 days, a small amount of AFB1 was observed. P. guajava, C. paradise, G. radicans and F. religiosa also controlled AFB1 and AFB2, but at higher concentration. In comparison to the European Commission and FAO standards for AFB1, at the end of the storage period, the AFs detected were within permissible limits. In view of considerable antifungal activities, the AFs produced by A. flavus can be controlled by P. granatum and M. alba plants to protect feed from fungal attack and AFs production during storage.

KEYWORDS:

• AFs monitoring
• aflatoxins
• medicinal plants
• layer hens feed
• aspergillus flavus
• feed stabilisation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Researchers Supporting Project number (RSP-2020/100), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan is also acknowledged for funding to accomplish PhD of Syeda Mona Hassan under Indigenous PhD Fellowship.