Inhibition of aflatoxin biosynthesis by phenolic compounds

The phenolic compounds acetosyringone, syringaldehyde and sinapinic acid in hibited the biosynthesis of aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)) by A. flavus. Acetosyrin gone was the most active among the three compounds, inhibiting aflatoxin le vel by 82% at 2 m mol l(-1). The synthesis and accumulation of norsolorinic acid, an aflatoxin biosynthetic intermediate, was also inhibited. These re sults suggest that at least one step early in the AFB(1) biosynthetic pathw ay is inhibited by the phenolics.