Fungal and Mycotoxin Contamination of Some Common Stored Herbal Fruit Samples

A total of 106 stored dried fruit samples ofEmblica officinalis (Alma), Terminalia bellerica (Baheda) and Terminaliachebula (Haritiki), randomly collected from various retailers of Gwalior city, Madhya Pradesh (India), were analyzed for mould and mycotoxins contamination. Mycological examination revealed that 97.77% of the total samples examined, were found to be contaminated with different fungi. A total of 17 different fungal species were isolated from all the fruit samples. The predominant mycoflora obtained was distributed in five different genera comprising ofAspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, Rhizopus and Syncephalastrum. The Aspergillus (71.95%) was recovered as the most dominant genus followed by Penicillium (15.44%), Rhizopus (9.51%), A lternaria (1.67%) and Syncephalastrum (1.41%). During mycotoxicological investigation of fruit samples six mycotoxins namely aflatoxin B1 & B₂ aflatoxin G1 & G₂, citrinin and sterigmatocystin were detected. Aflatoxin B was detected as an important contaminant (34.43%) in the tested fruit samples followed by sterigmatocystin (17.54%) and aflatoxin B1 (12.88%). Alatoxin G1 and G2 are detected in 9.22% and 11.10% samples, respectively whereas; citrinin was from 3.07% samples only. Aflatoxin B2 was detected maximum in 65.51% baheda fruits, 22% haritiki fruits and in 15.8% amla fruits only. The presence of wide range of fungi and their mycotoxins in the fruits of E. officinalis, T. bellerica and T. chebula showed the potential risk of the use of these herbal fruits and their products for the users.