Oil-bioactive Films as an Antifungal Application to Save Post-harvest Food Crops

Background: Agricultural wastes were rich in many components, which may considered as a source of natural and active materials. This study was targeted to apply a non-traditional method to safe grains against toxigenic fungi and its mycotoxins.

Materials and Methods: Three extracts of immature fig fruit (ImFF), fig leaves (FL), and pomegranate husks (POH) were collected, the antimicrobial and antifungal characters of the extracts were evaluated, and it was tested to reduce mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxin. The toxicity of these extracts were determined using brine shrimp bioassay. Jojoba oil used as a carrier for concentrate of those extracts.

Results and Discussion: Total phenolic and flavonoid content for the three extracts were varied. Immature fig extract (ImFF) showed the best results either in antimicrobial or in antifungal effect, its toxicity on brine shrimp was low, also it has highly ability as aflatoxins reducing in liquid media (52.7%) followed by fig leaves extract (20%). In addition; jojoba have higher Induction period, as ImFF dissolved in jojoba, the oxidative stability of the oil turned to be the highest value comparing to oil with other two extracts. The application of biofilm coat on the soybean grain using ImFF dissolved in jojoba oil recorded as the best way to save the grains against mycotoxigenic fungi and toxin producing.

Conclusion: Agricultural wastes could be one of the novel source for bioactive components, ImFF was the best extract which give the best results as an application in postharvest grain safety operation. The application of oil-extract film was a novel method saving grains against mycotoxins.