Impact of bioactive packaging systems based on EVOH films and essential oils in the control of aflatoxigenic fungi and aflatoxin production in maize

Eva M Mateo; José V Gómez; Irene Domínguez; Jose V Gimeno-Adelantado; Rufino Mateo-Castro; Rafael Gavara; Misericordia Jiménez

doi:10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2017.05.007

Impact of bioactive packaging systems based on EVOH films and essential oils in the control of aflatoxigenic fungi and aflatoxin production in maize

Int J Food Microbiol. 2017 Aug 2:254:36-46. doi: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2017.05.007. Epub 2017 May 11.

Authors

Eva M Mateo¹, José V Gómez¹, Irene Domínguez², Jose V Gimeno-Adelantado³, Rufino Mateo-Castro³, Rafael Gavara², Misericordia Jiménez⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology and Ecology, University of Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
² Packaging Lab, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos, CSIC, Avenida Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
³ Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
⁴ Department of Microbiology and Ecology, University of Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: misericordia.jimenez@uv.es.

PMID: 28525761
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2017.05.007

Abstract

Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus are the most common fungal species associated with aflatoxin (AF) contamination of cereals, especially maize, and other agricultural commodities. AFB_1, the most frequent and toxic metabolite, is a powerful hepatotoxic, teratogenic and mutagenic compound. Effective strategies to control these fungal species and AFs in food and feed are required. Active packaging film containing essential oils (EO) is one of the most innovative food packaging concepts. In this study, ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer films incorporating EO from Origanum vulgare (ORE), Cinnamomum zeylanicum (CIN) or their major active constituents, carvacrol (CAR) and cinnamaldehyde (CINHO), respectively, were developed and assayed to control growth of A. flavus and A. parasiticus and AF production in maize grains under different a_w and temperature regimens. EO doses assayed in cultures were in the range 0.25-4.0mg/Petri dish. The factors a_w, temperature, type of EVOH-EO film and fungal species significantly influenced the ED₅₀ values of all assayed films. Growth rate (GR) of both species was usually higher at 0.99 than at 0.96 a_w and at 37°C than at 25°C. However, the contrary was found with regard to AF production. The order of efficacy of EVOH-EO films to control growth of both species and AF production was EVOH-CINHO>EVOH-CAR>EVOH-ORE>EVOH-CIN. The effective dose (ED₅₀) (mg EO/plate) for EVOH-CINHO and EVOH-CIN films against A. flavus were in the ranges of 0.125 and 2.475-3.500 and against A. parasiticus in the ranges of 0.121-0.133 and 2.275-3.625, respectively. Under the assayed conditions, the ED₉₀ for EVOH-CINHO film were 0.22-0.23mg/plate for both species. It was the most effective bioactive film to control fungal growth (vapour phase) and AF production, regardless of a_w and temperature. This is the first study about the impact that interacting environmental conditions and bioactive EVOH-CINHO, EVOH-ORE, EVOH-CIN EVOH-CAR films have on the growth of aflatoxigenic fungi and on AF production in maize grains.

Keywords: Aflatoxins; Aspergillus flavus; Aspergillus parasiticus; Bioactive ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH); Essential oils; Maize.

MeSH terms

Acrolein / analogs & derivatives*
Acrolein / pharmacology
Aflatoxins / biosynthesis
Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
Aspergillus flavus / growth & development*
Cinnamomum zeylanicum / metabolism
Cymenes
Food Microbiology / methods
Food Packaging
Monoterpenes / pharmacology*
Oils, Volatile / pharmacology*
Origanum / metabolism
Polyvinyls / pharmacology*
Zea mays / microbiology*

Substances

Aflatoxins
Antifungal Agents
Cymenes
Monoterpenes
Oils, Volatile
Polyvinyls
ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer
Acrolein
carvacrol
cinnamaldehyde