• Home
  • Antimicrobial effect of Carvacrol on Aspergillus flavus and reduce expression of aflR gene in the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway

Share To

Article Url


Manuscript ID : FH-2003-1030 Visit : 128 Page: 1 - 5

Article Type: Original Research

Antimicrobial effect of Carvacrol on Aspergillus flavus and reduce expression of aflR gene in the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway

Subject Areas :

Seyed Amir Ali Anvar 1 , Hamed Ahari 2 , Nasim Mojarrad 3

1 - Department of Food Hygiene, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
2 - Department of Food Science and Technology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Department of Food Science and Technology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2019-11-25 Accepted : 2020-02-25 Published : 2020-03-15

Keywords: RT-PCR method, Aspergillus flavus, carvacrol, Antimicrobial Activity, gene expression,

Abstract :

Carvacrol was found in essential oils of thyme, oregano, wild bergamot, and some other plants. Although, a wide range of bioactivities such as anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial has been identified for carvacrol, however, among all therapeutic properties it possesses a potent antimicrobial activity. The present study investigates the inhibitory effect of carvacrol as an active compound against the growth of Aspergillus flavus, besides its effect on the expression of aflatoxin-related (aflR) gene. Twelve fungal samples of A. flavus were used and the antimicrobial activity of carvacrol was tested against them using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) according to the broth microdilution procedure. The expression of the aflatoxin regulatory (aflR) gene was examined by Reverse Transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. The results of MIC and MFC tests showed that carvacrol at 0.8 μg/ml and 3.5 μg/ml concentrations displayed antimicrobial activities on A. flavus, respectively. The RT-PCR result indicated that the expression level of aflR gene had decreased to 33% in the presence of carvacrol compared to 67% in the absence of the mentioned active compound. Together the results demonstrated that carvacrol not only exhibited antimicrobial activity against A. flavus but also reduced its gene expression level.

References:


  1. Schlosser I, Prange A. Antifungal activity of selected natural preservatives against the foodborne molds Penicillium verrucosum and Aspergillus westerdijkiae. FEMS Microbiology Letters. 2018;365(13).
    2.
  2. Yin HB, Chen CH, Kollanoor-Johny A, Darre MJ, Venkitanarayanan K. Controlling Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus growth and aflatoxin production in poultry feed using carvacrol and trans-cinnamaldehyde. Poultry Science. 2015;94(9):2183-90.
    3.
  3. Scherm B, Palomba M, Serra D, Marcello A, Migheli Q. Detection of transcripts of the aflatoxin genes aflD, aflO, and aflP by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction allows differentiation of aflatoxin-producing and non-producing isolates of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. International Journal of Food Microbiology. 2005;98(2):201-10.
    4.
  4. Lima JC, Gomes SM, de Oliveira Lima E, de Oliveira Pereira F, Lima IO. Carvacrol and thymol as potential preservatives against Aspergillus in maize grains. Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture. 2019.
    5.
  5. Sanzani SM, Reverberi M, Geisen R. Mycotoxins in harvested fruits and vegetables: Insights in producing fungi, biological role, conducive conditions, and tools to manage postharvest contamination. Postharvest Biology and Technology. 2016;122:95-105.
    6.
  6. Calo JR, Crandall PG, O'Bryan CA, Ricke SC. Essential oils as antimicrobials in food systems – A review. Food Control. 2015;54:111-9.
    7.
  7. Chavan PS, Tupe SG. Antifungal activity and mechanism of action of carvacrol and thymol against vineyard and wine spoilage yeasts. Food Control. 2014;46:115-20.
    8.
  8. Kalemba D, Kunicka A. Antibacterial and antifungal properties of essential oils. Current Medicinal Chemistry. 2003;10(10):813-29.
    9.
  9. Yin H-B, Chen C-H, Kollanoor-Johny A, Darre MJ, Venkitanarayanan K. Controlling Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus growth and aflatoxin production in poultry feed using carvacrol and trans-cinnamaldehyde. Poultry Science. 2015;94(9):2183-90.
    10.
  10. Botelho MA, Nogueira NA, Bastos GM, Fonseca SG, Lemos TL, Matos FJ, et al. Antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from Lippia sidoides, carvacrol and thymol against oral pathogens. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research = Revista Brasileira de Pesquisas Medicas e Biologicas. 2007;40(3):349-56.
    11.
  11. Atarés L, Chiralt A. Essential oils as additives in biodegradable films and coatings for active food packaging. Trends in Food Science & Technology. 2016;48:51-62.
    12.
  12. Ocak I, Çelik A, Özel MZ, Korcan E, Konuk M. Antifungal activity and chemical composition of essential oil of Origanum hypericifolium. International Journal of Food Properties. 2012;15(1):38-48.
    13.
  13. Nguefack J, Leth V, Amvam Zollo PH, Mathur SB. Evaluation of five essential oils from aromatic plants of Cameroon for controlling food spoilage and mycotoxin producing fungi. International Journal of Food Microbiology. 2004;94(3):329-34.
    14.
  14. Ocak I. Antifungal activity and chemical composition of essential oil of Origanum hypericifolium. International Journal of Food Properties. 2012;v. 15(no. 1):pp. 38-48-2012 v.15 no.1.
    15.
  15. Landa P, Kokoska L, Pribylova M, Vanek T, Marsik P. In vitro anti-inflammatory activity of carvacrol: Inhibitory effect on COX-2 catalyzed prostaglandin E2 biosynthesisb. Archives of Pharmacal Research. 2009;32(1):75-8.
    16.
  16. Leyva Salas M, Mounier J, Valence F, Coton M, Thierry A, Coton E. Antifungal Microbial Agents for Food Biopreservation-A Review. Microorganisms. 2017;5(3).
    17.
  17. Sharifi-Rad M, Varoni EM, Iriti M, Martorell M, Setzer WN, del Mar Contreras M, et al. Carvacrol and human health: A comprehensive review. Phytotherapy Research. 2018;32(9):1675-87.
    18.
  18. Suntres ZE, Coccimiglio J, Alipour M. The Bioactivity and Toxicological Actions of Carvacrol. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 2015;55(3):304-18.
    19.
  19. Bennett JW, Klich M. Mycotoxins. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 2003;16(3):497-516.
    20.
  20. Ribeiro MdSS, da Silva SHM, Freitas-Silva O, Abreu LF, de Lima CLS. Identification and characterization of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus section flavi by polyphase approach from Brazil nuts produced in agroforesty production system. Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture. 2019.
    21.
  21. Bintvihok A, Thiengnin S, Doi K, Kumagai S. Residues of aflatoxins in the liver, muscle and eggs of domestic fowls. The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science. 2002;64(11):1037-9.
    22.
  22. Klich MA. Environmental and developmental factors influencing aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Mycoscience. 2007;48(2):71-80.
    23.
  23. Yunus AW, Razzazi-Fazeli E, Bohm J. Aflatoxin B1 in affecting broiler’s performance, immunity, and gastrointestinal tract: a review of history and contemporary issues. Toxins. 2011;3(6).
    24.
  24. Wogan GN, Kensler TW, Groopman JD. Present and future directions of translational research on aflatoxin and hepatocellular carcinoma. A review. Food Additives & Contaminants Part A, Chemistry, Analysis, Control, Exposure & Risk Assessment. 2012;29(2):249-57.
    25.
  25. Pfaller JB, Messer SA, Hollis RJ, Diekema DJ, Pfaller MA. In vitro susceptibility testing of Aspergillus spp.: comparison of Etest and reference microdilution methods for determining voriconazole and itraconazole MICs. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 2003;41(3):1126-9.
    26.
  26. Pfaller MA, Messer SA, Mills K, Bolmström A. In vitro susceptibility testing of filamentous fungi: comparison of etest and reference microdilution methods for determining itraconazole MICs. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 2000;38(9):3359.
    27.
  27. Espinel-Ingroff A, Chaturvedi V, Fothergill A, Rinaldi MG. Optimal testing conditions for determining MICs and minimum fungicidal concentrations of new and established antifungal agents for uncommon molds: NCCLS collaborative study. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 2002;40(10):3776.
    28.
  28. Arikan S, Lozano-Chiu M, Paetznick V, Nangia S, Rex JH. Microdilution susceptibility testing of amphotericin b, itraconazole, and voriconazole against clinical isolates of Aspergillus and Fusarium species. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 1999;37(12):3946.
    29.
  29. Cuero R, Ouellet T, Yu J, Mogongwa N. Metal ion enhancement of fungal growth, gene expression and aflatoxin synthesis in Aspergillus flavus: RT-PCR characterization. Journal of Applied Microbiology. 2003;94(6):953-61.
    30.
  30. Moosavy MH, Hassanzadeh P, Mohammadzadeh E, Mahmoudi R, Khatibi SA, Mardani K. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of essential oil of lemon (Citrus limon) peel in vitro and in a food model. Journal of Food Quality and Hazards Control. 2017;4(2):42-8.
    31.
  31. Kumar P, Mahato DK, Kamle M, Mohanta TK, Kang SG. Aflatoxins: A global concern for food safety, human health and their management. Frontiers in Microbiology. 2017;7(2170).
    32.
  32. Alshannaq A, Yu JH. Occurrence, toxicity, and analysis of major mycotoxins in food. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2017;14(6).
    33.
  33. Douksouna Y, Masanga J, Nyerere A, Runo S, Ambang Z. Towards Managing and controlling aflatoxin producers within Aspergillus species in infested rice grains collected from local markets in Kenya. Toxins (Basel). 2019;11(9).
    34.
  34. Razzaghi-Abyaneh M, Shams-Ghahfarokhi M, Rezaee M-B, Jaimand K, Alinezhad S, Saberi R, et al. Chemical composition and antiaflatoxigenic activity of Carum carvi L., Thymus vulgaris and Citrus aurantifolia essential oils. Food Control. 2009;20(11):1018-24.
    35.
  35. Fani-Makki O, Omidi A, Hasheminejad SA. Comparison of thyme, milk thistle and cape aloe essences on the growth of Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin B1 production. Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences. 2015;17(2):84-92.
    36.
  36. Abbaszadeh S, Sharifzadeh A, Shokri H, Khosravi AR, Abbaszadeh A. Antifungal efficacy of thymol, carvacrol, eugenol and menthol as alternative agents to control the growth of food-relevant fungi. Journal de Mycologie Médicale. 2014;24(2):e51-e6.
    37.
  37. Silva FCd, Chalfoun SM, Siqueira VMd, Botelho DMdS, Lima N, Batista LR. Evaluation of antifungal activity of essential oils against potentially mycotoxigenic Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia. 2012;22:1002-10.
    38.
  38. Zambonelli A. Chemical composition and fungicidal activity of commercial essential oils of Thymus vulgaris L. The Journal of essential Oil Research. 2004;v. 16(no. 1):pp. 69-74-2004 v.16 no.1.
    39.
  39. Rasooli I, Rezaei MB, Allameh A. Growth inhibition and morphological alterations of Aspergillus niger by essential oils from Thymus eriocalyx and Thymus x-porlock. Food Control. 2006;17(5):359-64. 
    40.

Related articles

The rights to this website are owned by the Raimag Press Management System.
Copyright © 2021-2024

Home| Login| About Us| Contact Us|
[فارسی] [العربية] [fa] [ar]