Inhibitory Effects of Akacid®plus on Growth and Aflatoxin Production by Aspergillus parasiticus

The effects of Akacid®plus, a novel guanidine-based polymer first introduced as a biocidal and disinfectant agent were studied on Aspergillus parasiticus growth and its aflatoxin (AF) productivity. The fungus was cultured on yeast extract–sucrose (YES) broth in presence of various twofold serial dilutions of 25% Akacid®plus (1.5–96 μL/50 mL medium) and then incubated in shaking condition with 150 rev./min at 28 °C for 96 h. Based on obtained results, Akacid®plus was found to significantly inhibit both growth and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) synthesis in very low concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. Fungal growth inhibition was determined in the range of 9.6–99.6% in mycelia exposed to the total concentration range of 1.5–48 μL. A final concentration of 96 μL was necessary to completely inhibit the growth of fungus. Under similar conditions, AFB1 synthesis was found to be strongly inhibited by 8.1–98.0% in presence of 1.5–24 μL Akacid®plus with a maximum of 100% by 48 μL concentration. With respect to the unique physico-chemical properties of Akacid®plus, its marked inhibitory effects on A. parasiticus growth and its AFB1 synthesis shown for the first time in this study make it a promising candidate for application in prevention programmes of AF contamination of susceptible crops.