Inhibitory effects of Ephedra major Host on Aspergillus parasiticus growth and aflatoxin production.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of Ephedra major Host, an important medicinal plant with various biological activities, on growth and aflatoxin (AF) production by Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999. The fungus was cultured in yeast extract-sucrose (YES) broth, a conductive medium that supports AF production, in the presence of various concentrations of essential oil (EO), hexanic and methanolic extracts of plant aerial parts, fruits, and roots using microbioassay technique. After incubating for 96 h at 28 degrees C in static conditions, mycelial dry weight was determined as an index of fungal growth, and aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) was measured using HPLC technique.