The aqueous extract from Polymnia sonchifolia leaves (AE) was tested for inhibitory activity on aflatoxin B1(AFB1) production and growth of Aspergillus flavus. The cytotoxicity of AE on Vero cells was also performed. Suspensions of A. flavus spores were inoculated into 50 mL of YES medium together with different concentrations of the AE. The aflatoxin B1 was extracted, analyzed by thin layer chromatography and quantified by photodensitometry. All the concentrations of AE induced inhibition of AFB1 production. The aqueous extract showed in vitro cytotoxicity to Vero cells only at concentrations above 500 µg/mL.
Key words: aflatoxin B1, Aspergillus flavus, Polymnia sonchifolia, cytotoxicityThis work reports the inhibitory activity of aqueous leaf extract from P. sonchifolia against Aspergillus flavus growth and aflatoxin B1 production, and citotoxicity to Vero cells.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Preparation of plant extractLeaves of P. sonchifolia were collected in Capão Bonito city, São Paulo state, Brazil and dried at 40ºC. Dried leaves were pulverized in mill (Condux) to obtain a fine powder. The powdered leaves (100 g) were extracted with water at room temperature for 5 hours. After filtration and removal of water, the extract was lyophylized (Flaxidry mp). This aqueous extract (AE) was stored at 4ºC until use.
Culture conditionsAspergillus flavus IMI 190 (Internatinal Mycology InstituteLondon) was grown on potato dextrose agar (Difco Laboratories, Detroit, Mich) plates for 10 days at 25ºC. The spore suspension used as inoculum was prepared washing the culture with sterile 0.01% solution of Tween 80 (Merck, Germany). The number of spores in suspension was determined through counting in a Neubauer Chamber.