Mycotoxic Effects of Thymus Serpyllum Oil on the Asexual Reproduction of Aspergillus Species

Mycotoxic effects of Thymus serpyllum oil on the asexual reproduction of five species of Aspergillus - A. awamori, A. niger, A. flavus, A. foetidus and A. oryzae - were investigated. Tolnaftate B.P. 1% w/w was used as an antifungal reference drug. In addition to possessing antifungal properties, the oil inhibited all three stages of asexual reproduction, i.e. spore germination, mycelial growth and spore formation. The intensity of inhibitory effect varied with the species and the concentration of the oil used. A. niger was found to be the most sensitive at its germination stage, whereas A. foetidus was most sensitive at the mycelial growth and spore formation stage. At the same concentration, the effects of the oil and antifungal drug were the same at the mycelial growth stage, as in the case of A. oryzae. Overall, the inhibition of mycelial growth was better via T. serpyllum oil than the antifungal drug. Spore lysis was observed in the case of A. niger when spores were exposed to the oil.