Biflavonoids inhibit the production of aflatoxin by Aspergillus flavus

The biflavonoids 6,6"-bigenkwanin, amenthoflavone, 7,7"-dimethoxyagastisflavone and tetradimethoxybigenkwanin isolated from Ouratea species were tested for inhibitory activity on Aspergillus flavus cultures. Suspensions of Aspergillus flavus spores were inoculated into 50 ml of YES medium at different biflavonoid concentrations: 5 and 10 æg/ml for 6,6"-bigenkwanin, amenthoflavone and 7,7"-dimethoxyagastisflavone, and 5, 10, 15 and 20 æg/ml for tetradimethoxybigenkwanin. The four biflavonoids showed inhibitory activity on aflatoxin B1 and B2 production (P<0.001), but did not inhibit fungal growth at the concentration tested (P>0.05). These results show that biflavonoids can be used for the development of agents to control aflatoxin production

Antiviral activity of crude extracts of Guarea guidona

Crude extracts of leaves and fruits of Guarea guidona were tested antiviral activity against pseudorabies virus and foot-and-mouth disease virus in the IB-RS-2 pig cell line and against bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) in the GBK bovine Cell line. The highest nontoxic doses of extracts from fruits and leaves were 125 mug/ml and 500 mug/ml, respectively. Crude extracts presented antiviral activity against pseudorabies virus with a decrease in virus titer of 3.0 log units at 500 mug/ml. Virucidal activity was not observed at 62.5 mug/ml. Preformed cell monolayers showed no cytotoxic effect after 48 h in the presence of 500 mug/ml in pig cells. G. guidona leaves did not induce an antiviral state but exhibited antiviral effects during the early stage of viral infection.