Inhibition of aflatoxin production by surfactants

• Published in: Applied and Environmental Microbiology Vol. 60; no. 1; pp. 106 - 110
• Main Authors: Rodriguez, S.B, Mahoney, N.E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for Microbiology 01.01.1994
• Subjects: AFLATOXINAS; AFLATOXINE; ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS; Biological and medical sciences; BIOSINTESIS; BIOSYNTHESE; Cellular biology; Crops; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi; INHIBICION; INHIBITION; Microbiology; Mycology; Pathogenicity, host-agent relations, miscellaneous strains, epidemiology; SURFACTANT; SURFACTANTES; Microorganism growth; Aspergillus flavus; Germination; Mycotoxin; Biosynthesis; Surfactant; Fungi; Concentration effect; Microorganism culture; Fungi Imperfecti; Inhibition; Aflatoxin; Thallophyta; Conidia
• ISSN: 0099-2240; 1098-5336
• DOI: 10.1128/AEM.60.1.106-110.1994

The effect of 12 surfactants on aflatoxin production, growth, and conidial germination by the fungus Aspergillus flavus is reported. Five nonionic surfactants, Triton X-100, Tergitol NP-7, Tergitol NP-10, polyoxyethylene (POE) 10 lauryl ether, and Latron AG-98, reduced aflatoxin production by 96 to 99% at 1% (wt/vol). Colony growth was restricted by the five nonionic surfactants at this concentration. Aflatoxin production was inhibited 31 to 53% by lower concentrations of Triton X-100 (0.001 to 0.0001%) at which colony growth was not affected. Triton X-301, a POE-derived anionic surfactant, had an effect on colony growth and aflatoxin production similar to that of the five POE-derived nonionic surfactants. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), an anionic surfactant, and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, a cationic surfactant, suppressed conidial germination at 1% (wt/vol). SDS had no effect on aflatoxin production or colony growth at 0.001%. The degree of aflatoxin inhibition by a surfactant appears to be a function of the length of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic chains of POE-derived surfactants