Production of aflatoxins by fungi isolated from some medicinal plants used as drinks in Egypt

ABSTRACT

Thirty-one different plant samples of tea, anise, fenugreek and liquorice were purchased from different places in Egypt and tested for their total mold count on Sabouraud's agar mediumFrom the plant samples, 106 molds were isolated and screened for their ability to produce aflatoxinsOnly three fungal isolates were found to produce aflatoxins B1 and B2Two isolates were identified as Aspergillus parasiticus and one isolated as Aspergillus flavusThe spores of the aflatoxin producing fungal isolates were studied for their resistance to gamma radiation