Utilization of waste fruit-peels to inhibit aflatoxins synthesis by Aspergillus flavus: A biotreatment of rice for safer storage

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2014-11, Vol.172, p.423-428
• Main Authors: Naseer, R., Sultana, Bushra, Khan, M.Z., Naseer, D., Nigam, Poonam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aflatoxins; Aflatoxins - analysis; Aflatoxins - biosynthesis; Aflatoxins - metabolism; Agriculture; Antifungal activity; Antifungal Agents - pharmacology; antifungal properties; Apoptosis - drug effects; Applied sciences; Aspergillus flavus; Aspergillus flavus - cytology; Aspergillus flavus - drug effects; Aspergillus flavus - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Correlation; crop production; Exact sciences and technology; Food Analysis; Food Contamination - prevention & control; Food Microbiology; Food Storage - methods; Fruit - chemistry; Fruit-peels; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial Waste - prevention & control; lemon peels; Lemons; Moisture; Oryza - chemistry; Oryza - microbiology; Oryza sativa; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Pollution; Pomegranates; Rice; storage conditions; temperature; waste utilization; Wastes
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.09.017

•Fungus Aspergillus flavus grew and produced aflatoxins in rice on storage.•Peels of pomegranate and lemon showed appreciable antifungal activity.•Peels replaced chemical treatments to inhibit aflatoxin production.•Utilisation of waste peels is economical and safer for long-term storage of rice.•Use of waste to save a bioresource of economical value. Antifungal activity in lemon and pomegranate peels was considerable against Aspergillus flavus, higher in pomegranate (DIZ 37mm; MIC 135μg/mL). Powdered peels (5, 10, 20% w/w) were mixed in inoculated rice. The inhibitory effect on fungal-growth and production of aflatoxins by A. flavus was investigated at storage conditions – temperature (25, 30°C) and moisture (18%, 21%) for 9months. The maximum total aflatoxins accumulated at 30°C, 21% moisture and at 25°C, 18% moisture were 265.09 and 163.45ng/g, respectively in control. Addition of pomegranate-peels inhibited aflatoxins production to 100% during four month-storage of rice at 25°C and 18% moisture, while lemon-peels showed similar inhibitory effect for 3months at same conditions. However a linear correlation was observed in aflatoxins level with temperature and moisture. Studies showed that both fruit-wastes are potent preventer of aflatoxin production in rice, useful for a safer and longer storage of rice.