Chemical composition of rocket, thyme and parsley essential oils and their effect on some fungi and aflatoxin production

Abstract

Aflatoxins are produced by many species of Aspergillus, a fungus, most notably Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus.3 The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, 1993)4 has classified aflatoxin B1 as a group 1 carcinogen. Essential oils have a good source of biologically active compounds.5 In the last years essential oils from the different plants were used in the prevention of fungal growth and mycotoxins production in cereals.6,7