Antifungal activity of Cell Extract of Spirulina platensis against Aflatoxin producing Aspergillus species

Abstract

Spoilage of the food items results in the production of Mycotoxins by few fungi. The types of toxins include Aflatoxin, Fumonisins, Tricothecene, Ochratoxins, Zearalenones and Cyclopiazonic Acid. Aflatoxins are highly toxic secondary metabolites secreted by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. 18 different types of toxins had been identified. Among them, the major types include B1, B2, G1 and G2, named after their fluorescing property under ultra violet light, as blue and green, respectively. Aflatoxin B1 is the most potent, naturally occurring chemical liver carcinogen. The present study focuses on the study of Anti-fungal activity of the cell extract of Spirulina platensis against aflatoxin producing Aspergillus sp (Vinay Kumar et al., 2013). The aflatoxin was extracted from Aspergillus flavus MTCC 2798 strain after incubation of the strain at 28ºC for 7 days and it was confirmed by Mass-spectrometry. This proved that the test strain definitely produced aflatoxin. 0.1ml of the cell extract of Spirulina platensis was prepared and used for anti-fungal activity studies by agar well diffusion method on Czapek Doz agar medium. Methanol was used as control. Zone of 14mm and 19mm were observed in plates inoculated with Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger.