1Department of Microbiology, Nagpur Veterinary College, Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur - 440 006. (M.S.)
2Department of Pathology, Nagpur Veterinary College, Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur - 440 006. (M.S.)
Antifungal activity against Aspergillus ochraceus, antiochratoxigenic and ochratoxin A (OA) neutralizing potential of the aqueous herbal extracts of Annona squamosa, Azadirachta indica, Lawsona innermis, Ferronia eluhantum and Mangifera indica have been investigated. Results of the present study indicate that the aqueous herbal extracts do not possess an antifungal activity. The significant reduction in OA production was due to F. eluhantum (48.57%), L. innermis (42.85%) and A. indica (35.00%) in comparison to control. In contrast, there was significant increase in OA production due to M. indica (28.57%) and A. squamosa (26.42%) as compared to control. In vitro OA (0.5μg OA/ml and 0.5μg OA/g) neutralizing activity of L. innermis was highest (78%) in comparison to F. eluhantum (34%), A. squamosa (32%), A. indica (30%) and M. indica (24%) in liquid medium. In solid substrate the aqueous extract of L. innermis exhibited highest (90%) OA neutralizing activity followed by the aqueous extracts of A. indica (40%) and of F. eluhantum (36%). The soaking of the solid substrate containing OA for 1 hour further improved the OA neutralizing activity of A. squamosa, A. indica and L. innermis. The aqueous herbal extract of A. squamosa and M. indica though favored the production of OA in liquid media, exhibited an OA neutralizing ability.
