CONTAMINATION OF SOME COMMON MEDICINAL PLANT-SAMPLES AND SPICES BY FUNGI AND THEIR MYCOTOXINS

A total of 84 medicinal plant samples and spices were examined for the contamination of molds and mycotoxins. Ten fungal genera of different taxonomic groups were detected. Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus, A . niger, Fusarium oxysporum, and Penicillium viridicatum occurred most often on the medicinal plant samples. Direct determination of mycotox ins in medicinal plant samples revealed aflatoxin B-1 in 17 samples at an average of from 10 to 160 mu gkg(-1), ochratoxin-A in 3 samples at an average of from 20 to 80 mu gkg(-1), and no detection of penicilli c acid, zearalenone, or T-toxin. Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus, a nd A. oryzae were aflatoxin-producers, whereas, A. ochraceus, P. virid icatum, and P. variable were ochratoxin-A producers. In addition P. vi ridicatum, P. chrysogenum, and P. commune were penicillic acid-produce rs. The molds produced high concentrations of mycotoxins in synthetic medium and low to zero concentrations in the medicinal plants.