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Synergistic inhibition of Aspergillus flavus by organic acid salts: growth, oxidative stress, and aflatoxin gene modulation

Summary

A dangerous fungus called Aspergillus flavus contaminates animal feed and produces harmful toxins called aflatoxins that can make animals sick. Researchers tested a combination of three salt-based organic acids commonly used as natural food preservatives and found they work together to kill this fungus much better than using them individually. The combination damages the fungus’s cell structure, creates harmful reactive oxygen inside the cells, and shuts down the genes that produce the toxins, making it an excellent safe option for protecting animal feed.

Background

Aspergillus flavus is a saprophytic fungus that produces aflatoxins, which are carcinogenic, teratogenic, genotoxic, and immunotoxic compounds that contaminate approximately 60-80% of crops globally. Organic acids and their salt derivatives are widely used as mould-inhibiting additives in feed production due to their superior stability and lower corrosivity compared to traditional organic acids.

Objective

This study evaluated the synergistic effects of three organic acid salts (sodium diacetate, sodium dehydroacetate, and sodium benzoate) in combination on the mycelial growth, cellular integrity, antioxidant status, and toxigenic gene expression of Aspergillus flavus.

Results

The composite organic acid salt at a 2:1:1 ratio (sodium diacetate:sodium dehydroacetate:sodium benzoate) showed optimal antifungal efficacy with a FICI of 0.28, reducing mycelial dry weight by 86.09% at MIC. Treatment significantly increased extracellular relative conductivity and decreased pH, suppressed total lipids and trehalose biosynthesis, induced oxidative stress with increased SOD and GSH-Px activities and MDA accumulation, and substantially downregulated all six aflatoxin synthesis pathway genes at MIC.

Conclusion

The composite organic acid salt exhibits a multi-target, synergistic mechanism against A. flavus through inhibition of mycelial growth, disruption of cellular structure, induction of oxidative damage, and suppression of toxigenic gene expression. These findings highlight its considerable potential as an effective and safe feed preservative for preventing mycotoxin contamination.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Veterinary Science,
  • Study Type:In vitro Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMC12713322, PMID: 41427128, DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1608792
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