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Evaluating the Antifungal Activity of α-Bisabolol in Association with NaCl on Fusarium oxysporum in Maize Grains

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Abstract

Fusarium infections result in reduced maize grain (Zea mays L.) yields and notable impacts on human and animal health. Research involving natural products to control fungi in food is a promising alternative. Combinations of α-bisabolol (AB) and sodium chloride (NaCl) may suggest the use of lower effective concentrations of the drugs. This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal potential of AB associated with NaCl against Fusarium oxysporum strains isolated from maize. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) values of AB and NaCl were determined by microdilution, and an association study was performed (checkerboard). Effects on fungal mycelial growth (poisoned substrate technique) and a maize grain contamination model were analyzed. AB presented MIC values ranging from 128 and 1024 μg/mL; NaCl inhibited fungal growth at 16,384 μg/mL. The AB/NaCl association study revealed synergism by decreasing inhibitory concentrations by eight times. In corn kernels, AB and NaCl, whether isolated (at MIC) or in association (at sub-inhibitory concentrations), significantly inhibited in vitro mycelial growth (P < 0.05). Further analysis of liquid from a canned maize sample also revealed the fungistatic effects of the compounds associations (P < 0.05). The results confirm the antifungal potential of AB, whether isolated or in association with NaCl to control F. oxysporum in maize.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Department of Agriculture (Cuité, Brazil) and National Supply Company (Brazil) for supplying the maize grains.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural and Bioactive Synthetic Products, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil

    César A. C. de Medeiros

  2. Biochemistry Laboratory, Academic Health Unit, Education and Health Center, Federal University of Campina Grande, Olho D`Água da Bica, Cuité, Paraíba, 58175-000, Brazil

    Ânderson de V. Pinto, Josenildo C. de Oliveira & Fillipe de O. Pereira

  3. Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil

    Gezaíldo S. Silva

  4. Biotechnology Laboratory, Multidisciplinary Center for Technological Investigations, Directorate General for Scientific and Technological Research, National University of Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay

    Juliana M. M. Arrua

  5. Natural Sciences and Biotechnology, Education and Health Center, Federal University of Campina Grande, Cuité, Paraíba, Brazil

    Igara O. Lima

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  1. César A. C. de Medeiros
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  3. Josenildo C. de Oliveira
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Contributions

FOP and IOL conceived and designed the experiments; CACM, AVP, and JCO performed the experiments and analyzed data; CACM and GSS wrote the paper; GSS and JMMA executed the article editing. JMMA contributed to the critical reading of the manuscript and experiments with maize. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Fillipe de O. Pereira.

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de Medeiros, C.A.C., Pinto, Â.V., de Oliveira, J.C. et al. Evaluating the Antifungal Activity of α-Bisabolol in Association with NaCl on Fusarium oxysporum in Maize Grains. Curr Microbiol 78, 604–610 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-020-02313-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-020-02313-8

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