Contamination of medicinally important dried rhizomes and root tubers with fungi and their toxins.

摘要

A total of one hundred thirty market samples of dried rhizomes of Acorus calamus, Bergenia ciliata, Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinale and root tubers of Pueraria tuberosa were examined for the isolation of surface mycoflora and their toxins. Among the isolated mycoflora, penicillia, aspergilli and their perfect states were the most dominant. Analysis of samples for mycotoxin contamination revealed presence of citrinin and patulin in variable concentrations. Citrinin contamination was detected in 32.30 percent samples where its concentration varied between 0.01-12.08 micro g/g. Patulin was found in 9.23 per cent samples and its concentration varied between 0.59 to 5.68 mg/g. Co-occurrence of citrinin and patulin was also detected in some samples.