Plant Nano Biology (Aug 2024)

Efficacy of Cymbopogon khasianus essential oil infused chitosan nanoemulsion for mitigation of Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin B1 contamination in stored Syzygium cumini seeds

  • Jitendra Prasad,
  • Monisha Soni,
  • Arati Yadav,
  • Kishor Kumar Paul,
  • Manish Kumar Jha,
  • Umakant Banjare,
  • Somenath Das,
  • Nawal Kishore Dubey,
  • Abhishek Kumar Dwivedy

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9
p. 100085

Abstract

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This research developed a novel chitosan nanoemulsion infused with Cymbopogon khasianus essential oil (CKEO-ChNe) and characterized through Dynamic light scattering, Atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and x-ray diffractometry analyses followed by its efficacy testing against fungi and aflatoxin B1 contamination in Syzygium cumini seeds. The CKEO-ChNe inhibited Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production at 0.32 and 0.28 µL/mL with enhanced antioxidant activity and controlled delivery strategies. The inhibition of methylglyoxal and ergosterol biosynthesis, leakage of ions and molecular interaction of geraniol with Ver-1 (Versicolorin A dehydrogenase) and Omt-A (O-methyl transferase) proteins suggested the antifungal and anti-AFB1 mechanism of action. Further, the in situ protection of Syzygium cumini seeds against fungi, AFB1 contamination and lipid peroxidation (p<0.05) without altering the sensory characteristics, and favorable safety profile in mammalian model recommend the potentiality of encapsulated CKEO nanoemulsion as smart nano-fungitoxic preservative in agricultural and pharmaceutical industries.

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