Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

In vivo and in vitro control activity of plant essential oils against three strains of Aspergillus niger

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Contamination of environment and food from the prevalent spores and mycotoxins of Aspergillus niger has led to several diseases in humans and other animals. The present study investigated the control activity of plant essential oils against three strains of A. niger. In the elaborate assays done through microdilution plate assay and agar disk diffusion assay in the lab condition and in vivo assay on the stored wheat grains, the essential oil of Thymus vulgaris depicted overall superior efficacy. In microdilution plate assay, the oil of Anethum graveolens showed best fungistatic activity, while best fungicidal activity was depicted by Syzygium aromaticum oil. The oil of T. vulgaris showed moderate control efficacy against A. niger strains with its antifungal activity resulting mainly due to killing of microorganism rather than growth inhibition. In agar disk diffusion assay, T. vulgaris oil with a zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 23.3–61.1% was the most effective fungicide. The in vivo assay to evaluate the protection efficacy of oils for stored wheat grains against A. niger (AN1) revealed T. vulgaris (90.5–100%) to be the best control agent, followed by the oil of S. aromaticum (61.9–100%). The GC–MS analysis of T. vulgaris oil indicated the presence of thymol (39.11%), γ-terpinene (19.73%), o-cymene (17.21%), and β-pinene (5.38%) as major oil components. Phytotoxic effects of the oils on wheat seeds showed no significant phytotoxic effect of oils in terms of seed germination or seedling growth. The results of the study demonstrated control potentiality of essential oils for the protection of stored wheat against A. niger with prospect for development of eco-friendly antifungal products.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahluwalia V, Sisodia R, Walia S, Sati OP, Kumar J, Kundu A (2014) Chemical analysis of essential oils of Eupatorium adenophorum and their antimicrobial antioxidant and phytotoxic properties. J Pest Sci 872:341–349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bansod S, Rai M (2008) Antifungal activity of essential oils from Indian medicinal plants against human pathogenic Aspergillus fumigatus and A. niger. World J Med Sci 32:81–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouddine L, Louaste L, Achahbar S, Chami N, Chami F, Remmal A (2012) Comparative study of the antifungal activity of some essential oils and their major phenolic components against Aspergillus niger using three different methods. Afr J Biotechnol 11:14083–14087

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Committee on Damp Indoor Spaces and Health (2004) Damp indoor spaces and health. National Academy Press, Washington (DC) Available at: http://wwwnapedu/books/0309091934/html

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu YJ, Zu YG, Chen LY, Shi XG, Wang Z, Sun S, Efferth T (2007) Antimicrobial activity of clove and rosemary essential oils alone and in combination. Phytother Res 21:989–994

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gitsopoulos TK, Chatzopoulou P, Georgoulas I (2013) Effects of essential oils of Lavandula x hybrida rev, Foeniculum vulgare mill and Thymus capitatus L on the germination and radical length of Triticum aestivum L, Hordeum vulgare L, Lolium rigidum L and Phalaris brachystachys L. J Essent Oil Bear Plants 166:817–825

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kedia A, Prakash B, Mishra PK, Chanotiya CS, Dubey NK (2014) Antifungal, antiaflatoxigenic, and insecticidal efficacy of spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) essential oil. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 89:29–36

  • Kim E, Park IK (2012) Fumigant antifungal activity of Myrtaceae essential oils and constituents from Leptospermum petersonii against three Aspergillus species. Molecules 17:10459–10469

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klich MA (2009) Health effects of Aspergillus in food and air. Toxicol Ind Health 25(9-10):657–667

  • Kordali S, Cakir A, Ozer H, Cakmakci R, Kesdek M, Mete E (2008) Antifungal phytotoxic and insecticidal properties of essential oil isolated from Turkish Origanum acutidens and its three components carvacrol thymol and p-cymene. Bioresour Technol 99(18):8788–8795

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar R, Dubey NK, Tiwari OP, Tripathi YB, Sinha KK (2007) Evaluation of some essential oils as botanical fungitoxicants for the protection of stored food commodities from fungal infestation. J Sci Food Agric 87(9):1737–1742

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar P, Mishra S, Malik A, Satya S (2011) Insecticidal properties of Mentha species a review. Ind Crop Prod 34:802–817

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar P, Mishra S, Malik A, Satya S (2013) Preparation and characterization of Mentha × piperita oil emulsion for housefly (Musca domestica L.) control. Ind Crop Prod 44:611–617

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar P, Mishra S, Malik A, Satya S (2014) Preparation and characterization of PEG-Mentha oil nanoparticles for housefly control. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 116:707–713

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar P, Mishra S, Kumar A, Sharma AK (2016) Antifungal efficacy of plant essential oils against stored grain fungi of Fusarium. spp. J Food Sci Technol 53(10):3725–3734

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu CH, Mishra AK, Tan RX, Tang C, Yang H, Shen YF (2006) Repellent and insecticidal activities of essential oils from Artemisia princeps and Cinnamomum camphora and their effect on seed germination of wheat and broad bean. Bioresour Technol 97(15):1969–1973

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mancini E, Senatore F, Del Monte D, De Martino L, Grulova D, Scognamiglio M, Snoussi M, De Feo V (2015) Studies on chemical composition antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of five Thymus vulgaris L essential oils. Molecules 20(7):12016–12028

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen KF, Mogensen JM, Johansen M, Larsen TO, Frisvad JC (2009) Review of secondary metabolites and mycotoxins from the Aspergillus niger group. Anal Bioanal Chem 395(5):1225–1242

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nikolić M, Glamočlija J, Ferreira IC, Calhelha RC, Fernandes Â, Marković T, Marković D, Giweli A, Soković M (2014) Chemical composition antimicrobial antioxidant and antitumor activity of Thymus serpyllum L, Thymus algeriensis Boiss and Reut and Thymus vulgaris L essential oils. Ind Crop Prod 52:183–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Passone MA, Girardi NS, Ferrand CA, Etcheverry M (2012) In vitro evaluation of five essential oils as botanical fungitoxicants for the protection of stored peanuts from Aspergillus flavus and A parasiticus contamination. Int Biodeter Biodegrad 70:82–88

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paster N, Menasherov M, Ravid U, Juven B (1995) Antifungal activity of oregano and thyme essential oils applied as fumigants against fungi attacking stored grain. J Food Prot 58(1):81–85

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pavela R (2016) History, presence and perspective of using plant extracts as commercial botanical insecticides and farm products for protection against insects—a review. Plant Prot Sci 52:229–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pavela R, Benelli G (2016) Essential oils as ecofriendly biopesticides? Challenges and constraints. Trends Plant Sci 21(12):1000–1007

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prakash B, Dubey NK (2011) Evaluation of chemically characterised essential oils of Coleus aromaticus Hyptis suaveolens and Ageratum conyzoides against storage fungi and aflatoxin contamination of food commodities. Int J Food Sci Technol 46(4):754–760

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prakash B, Kedia A, Mishra PK, Dubey NK (2015) Plant essential oils as food preservatives to control moulds mycotoxin contamination and oxidative deterioration of agri-food commodities—potentials and challenges. Food Control 47:381–391

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schuster E, Dunn-Coleman N, Frisvad JC, Van Dijck P (2002) On the safety of Aspergillus niger—a review. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 59(4–5):426–435

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma N, Tripathi A (2006) Fungitoxicity of the essential oil of Citrus sinensis on post-harvest pathogens. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 22(6):587–593

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SPSS (2008) Statistical product and service solution. System user's guide version 17.5

  • Sumalan RM, Alexa E, Poiana MA (2013) Assessment of inhibitory potential of essential oils on natural mycoflora and Fusarium mycotoxins production in wheat. Chem Cent J 7(1):1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tian J, Ban X, Zeng H, Huang B, He J, Wang Y (2011) In vitro and in vivo activity of essential oil from dill (Anethum graveolens L) against fungal spoilage of cherry tomatoes. Food Control 22(12):1992–1999

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tolouee M, Alinezhad S, Saberi R, Eslamifar A, Zad SJ, Jaimand K, Taeb J, Rezaee MB, Kawachi M, Shams-Ghahfarokhi M, Razzaghi-Abyaneh M (2010) Effect of Matricaria chamomilla L flower essential oil on the growth and ultrastructure of Aspergillus niger van Tieghem. Int J Food Microbiol 139(3):127–133

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tzortzakis NG, Economakis CD (2007) Antifungal activity of lemongrass (Cympopogon citratus L) essential oil against key postharvest pathogens. Innovative Food Sci Emerg Technol 8(2):253–258

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Verdeguer M, Blázquez MA, Boira H (2009) Phytotoxic effects of Lantana camara, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eriocephalus africanus essential oils in weeds of Mediterranean summer crops. Biochem Syst Ecol 37(4):362–369

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology (DST), India (SB/YS/LS-392/2013). The authors acknowledge the technical support provided by Mr. Ajai Kumar (AIRF JNU, India) for GC–MS analysis and Mr. Omkar Sharma (IARI, New Delhi, India) for his help in experimental work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Seed Science & Technology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, Pusa, 110012, India

    Peeyush Kumar & Atul Kumar

  2. Applied Microbiology Laboratory, Centre for Rural Development & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, 110016, India

    Sapna Mishra

  3. Centre for Polymer Science, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, 110016, India

    Sanjeev Kumar

  4. Biocontrol Laboratory, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Modipuram, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, 250110, India

    Chandra Shekhar Prasad

Authors
  1. Peeyush Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sapna Mishra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Atul Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sanjeev Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Chandra Shekhar Prasad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peeyush Kumar.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Electronic supplementary material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kumar, P., Mishra, S., Kumar, A. et al. In vivo and in vitro control activity of plant essential oils against three strains of Aspergillus niger . Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 21948–21959 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9730-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9730-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation