The neem [Azadirachta indica a: juss (meliaceae)] oil reduction in the in vitro production of zearalenone by Fusarium graminearum

Zearalenone, a mycotoxin produced by fungi of the genus Fusarium, including F. graminearum, triggers reproduction disorders in certain animals and hyperestrogen syndromes in humans. Current research investigates three concentrations of neem oil extract (0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 percent) in reducing the production of zearalenone. Neem oil extract decreased zearalenone amount in the three concentrations but highest inhibition (59.05 percent) occurred at 0.1 percent.

Efeito dos extratos aquoso e oleoso de Nim [Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Meliaceae)] na produção de patulina em maçãs contaminadas por Penicillium expansum / Effect of aqueous and oily extracts of Neem [Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Meliaceae)] on patulin production in apples contaminated with Penicillium expansum

A Região Sul do Brasil é grande produtora de maçã, sendo 80 por cento destinada ao consumo in natura. As micotoxinas são metabólitos secundários de fungos presentes na cadeia alimentar como contaminantes, causando diversos efeitos toxicológicos e imunológicos. Considerando que a patulina seja uma micotoxina produzida por Penicillium expansum, principal contaminante da maçã propôs-se investigar a ação de extratos aquoso e oleoso de Nim (Azadirachta indica) em maçã artificialmente contaminada. Foram testados dois tipos de extratos: o extrato aquoso obtido de maceração de folhas de Nim nas concentrações de 5, 10, 20 e 30 por cento, e o extrato oleoso comercial (DalNeem®), obtido de sementes de Nim, nas concentrações de 0,125, 0,25, 0,5, 1, 2 e 5 por cento. Os extratos aquosos não alteram a produção da patulina em maçãs contaminadas artificialmente por P. expansum, mas o extrato oleoso obtido das sementes da planta diminuiu acentuadamente a produção de patulina, inclusive em concentrações inferiores a 0,5 por cento.

The South region of Brazil is a major apple producer, where 80 percent is destined to the "in natura" consumption. The mycotoxins are fungal secondary metabolites present as contaminants in the food chain, causing several toxicological and immunological effect. Patulin is a mycotoxin mainly produced by Penicillium expansum and well known as the main contaminant in apples. Due to this contamination, the aim of this work was to access the effect of Neem extract (Azadirachta indica) on artificially contaminated apples. Two types of Neem extracts were tested: the aqueous extracts of Neem leafs at 5, 10, 20 and 30 percent concentrations, and commercial seed oil of Neem (DalNeem®) at 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 and 5 percent in water. Although the addition of Neem aqueous extracts in artificially contaminated apples with P. expansum was unable to affect the patulin production, the Neem seed oil extract at concentrations as lower as 0.5 percent, caused a pronounced diminution over patulin production.