ANTIFUNGAL, AFLATOXIN INHIBITORY AND FREE RADICAL-SCAVENGING ACTIVITIES OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS EXTRACTS

ABSTRACT The antifungal, aflatoxin inhibitory and antioxidant activity of methanol–aqueous extract (2:1) of 62 medicinal plants was explored. Based on the antifungal results, the extracts of 25 plants showed more than 50% antifungal activity and were further investigated for their aflatoxin inhibition and antioxidant properties. Methanol–aqueous extracts of Phyllanthus emblica and Terminalia chebula fruits caused 100% inhibition of aflatoxin production by the toxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus in semisynthetic medium at 1 mg/mL. In addition, P. emblica (IC50 = 4.1 µg/mL) and T. chebula (IC50 = 6.9 µg/mL) fruits extracts exhibited strong antioxidant activity during the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging assay in comparison with butylated hydroxytoluene (IC50 = 8.1 µg/mL) and butylated hydroxyanisole (IC50 = 6 µg/mL). PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Based on the results of the present study, methanol–aqueous extracts of Phyllanthus emblica and Terminalia chebula, being endowed with strong antifungal, aflatoxin inhibitory and antioxidant activity, may be recommended as plant-based preservatives for the enhancement of shelf life of food items and their protection from the undesirable harmful effects of molds, aflatoxin and free radical-mediated damages.