IDENTIFICATION AND EFFECT OF AFLATOXINS AND FUMONISINS ON MEDICINAL PLANTS FROM INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT VIZ., WITHANIA SOMNIFERA AND OCIMUM SANCTUM

Microfungi produce mycotoxins that are secondary metabolites and are capable of causing death and disease in human beings, plants and animal too. The pharmacological effects of mycotoxins and mycotoxin derivatives are helpful in use as antibiotics, promoters, and other kinds of drugs; still others have been implicated as chemical warfare agents. This work focuses on the most important ones including aflatoxins and fumonisins and their effect on medicinal plants widely found in Indian sub-continent viz., Withania somnifera and Ocimum sanctum. Fungal degraded fruits, Pyrus sp., Malus domestica and Musa sp. were taken for extraction of mycotoxin by high-speed blending with Acetone and Chloroform, followed by purification with Column Chromatography (Magnesium Silicate) of the crude extract. TLC was performed to determine the Rf value of purified toxins. Aflatoxin B1, Aflatoxin B2 and Fumonisin B1 were identified by this technique and further detection of mycotoxin was done by Gas Chromatography. Purified mycotoxins were then sprayed in equal amount (~5ml) on stem, leaves and roots of the potted plants (Ashwagandha and Tulsi) and the results were quite impressive. Wilting and necrosis occurred on the leaf portion and only necrosis occurred on the stem portion of the plant. Withania sp. showed great results as compared to Ocimum sp. with respect to susceptibility against mycotoxin. Capitulum inflorescence of Ocimum sp. fell off after a week of spraying. Spraying was done with an interval of 2 days alternatively on both the plants with similar dosage of purified toxins. It was done till 16 days.