ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF KEBAR GRASS (BIOPHYTUM PETERSIANUM KLOTSZCH) STEM ETHANOL EXTRACT ON THE GROWTH OF AFLATOXIGENIC ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS IN CORN AND PEANUT-BASED MEDIA

Abstract

Cereals and legumes are very easily damaged by fungi, including toxigenic fungi species such as Aspergillus flavus which can produce aflatoxins. Various methods have been carried out to reduce aflatoxin contamination in foods, including the use of plant extracts based antimicrobial compounds. One of indigenous herbs in Papua that has potency as natural antimicrobial is Kebar grass (Biophytum petersianum Klotszch). The aims of this study were to investigate the chemical composition and the effect of kebar grass stem ethanol extract on the growth of toxigenic A. flavus. Kebar grass stem ethanol extract at concentrations of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 mg mL-1 was tested on the growth of A. flavus in two types media i.e. corn based-medium and peanut based-medium. The result showed that kebar grass stem ethanol extract at concentration of 15 mg ml-1 in corn based-medium and peanut based-medium caused 100% growth inhibition of A. flavus. The major compounds in kebar grass stem ethanol extract were: Pyrocatechol, Methylhydrazine hydrochloride, 2-Fluoropropane, Isobutyric acid, 2,6-Dimethoxyphenol. The results obtained from this study suggested that the ethanol extract of the kebar grass stem can be used as a natural antifungal agent to inhibit the growth of aflatoxigenic A. flavus.