Antifungal properties and inhibitory effects upon aflatoxin production by <i>Zingiber officinale</i> essential oil in <i>Aspergillus flavus</i>

Abstract

Summary In this study, the efficacy of g inger ( Zingiber officinale Roscoe) essential oil ( GEO ) in reducing A. flavus growth and aflatoxin production was investigated. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed that the major components of GEO were α‐zingiberene (23.85%) and geranial (14.16%). Mycelial growth of Aspergillus flavus was reduced significantly at a GEO concentration of 150 μg mL −1 , and complete inhibition of conidial germination was observed at a concentration of 10 μg mL −1 . Statistically significant inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis was detected at a GEO concentration of 10 μg mL −1 . GEO was capable of fully inhibiting aflatoxin production by A. flavus at a concentration of 15 μg mL −1 . The results suggest that low concentrations of GEO are capable of inhibiting aflatoxin production; such ability could be valuable in the upcoming future for agricultural companies to better control aflatoxigenic fungi in agricultural products.