EFFICACY OF Balanites aegyptiaca AND Olea europaea ESSENTIAL OILS ON THE GROWTH AND PRODUCTION OF AFLATOXIN BY AFLATOXIGENIC FUNGI Aspergilli SPECIES

Effect of Balanites aegyptiaca and Olea europaea essential oils (EOs) (0.5-2%) on the growth and production of aflatoxin by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus was evaluated. These two EOs significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited the production of aflatoxin by these two Aspergilli and also reduced dry weights of mycelia. At 2% of Balanites EO, the total aflatoxin (B1, B2, G1, and G2) was inhibited by 93% and 94.8% for A. flavus and A. parasiticus respectively, while aflatoxin B (B1, B2) displayed inhibition of 92.3% and 89.5%, whereas the mycelial dry weights were reduced by 53.1% and 68.8% respectively. The EO of O. europaea inhibited the total aflatoxin by 92.9% and 93.4% for A. flavus and A. parasiticus respectively and aflatoxin B (B1, B2) by 93.4% and 91.2% and suppressed the mycelial dry weight to 70.4% and 62.8% for the two Aspergillus strains. None of the oils were capable to detoxified the synthetic aflatoxin B1. These EOs contain antifungal activities and fungitoxicant against aflatoxin biosynthesis. Thus, they could be recommended as effective biopreservatives against mould infestation of food.