Search

Morindae Officinalis Radix (MOR) and Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus (AOF) have been widely used as dietary supplements and traditional herbal medicines for centuries. Fungal and mycotoxin contamination in MOR and AOF has been reported recently. In this study, fungi in MOR and AOF are first investigated using DNA metabarcoding, and the differences in fungal microbiome between moldy and non−moldy samples are analyzed. The results show that Ascomycota is the most prevailing fungus at the phylum level in MOR and AOF with relative abundances of 49.53–94.32% and 14.81–81.85%, respectively. Penicillium (1.86–76.14%), Cladosporium (1.82–56.65%), and Trichoderma (0.12–19.71%) are the dominant genera in MOR. Penicillium (0.27–56.06%), Papiliotrema (0.04–51.71%), and Cladosporium (3.08–44.41%) are the dominant genera in AOF. Two potential toxigenic fungi were detected, namely, Trichoderma atroviride and Fusarium equiseti. Moreover, the differences in fungal communities between moldy and non−moldy samples were monitored. In conclusion, DNA metabarcoding can be used to assess the fungal microbiome in edible medicinal herbs, thereby providing a basis for ensuring food safety and drug efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cistanches Herba (CH), known as Roucongrong, is a widely used health food supplement and medicinal herb. In recent years, fungal and mycotoxin contamination has affected the quality and safety of CH, posing a potential threat to consumer health. In this study, the Illumina MiSeq PE300 platform and targeted the internal transcribed spacer 2 sequences were used to investigate fungal communities in CH. The differences in the fungal communities of samples from different collection areas and processing methods were analyzed. As a result, 606 ASVs were obtained and were further classified into six phyla, 27 classes, 56 orders, 110 families, and 167 genera. Basidiomycota and Rhizopodaceae were the dominant phylum and family, respectively. Rhizopus (0%–43.72%), Aspergillus (0%–19.55%), and Fusarium (0%–20.27%) were the most dominant genera among the identified genera. Meanwhile, 13 species were identified, including two potential toxigenic fungi Aspergillus terreus and and Mucor circinelloides. In addition, variations in the composition of the fungal communities, the diversity of fungi, their trophic modes, and the functional guilds in CH samples from four different collection regions and two processing methods were observed. This work provides useful information for controlling fungal contamination in herbs and foods to ensure food safety and human health. [Display omitted] • Fungal communities of Cistanches Herba were analyzed by high–throughput sequencing. • Rhizopus , Aspergillus , and Fusarium were the most dominant genera among the identified genera. • Collection areas and processing methods affect Cistanches Herba the fungal communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platycladi Semen, which is derived from the dried ripe seed of Platycladus orientalis , has been used for the treatment of insomnia and constipation in China for 2000 years. However, it is susceptible to fungal and aflatoxin contamination under proper humidity and temperature during storage. Although aflatoxin contamination in Platycladi Semen has been reported preliminarily, few studies have been conducted on fungal infection and aflatoxin contamination simultaneously. Thus, this work aims to provide an in-depth understanding of fungal contamination in Platycladi Semen, and information on aflatoxin contamination. We focused on a comparison of the difference in fungal diversity between aflatoxin-contaminated and aflatoxin-free Platycladi Semen samples. First, aflatoxin levels in 11 Platycladi Semen samples, which were collected from local herbal markets in Shandong, Anhui, and Hebei provinces throughout China, were determined by IAC-HPLC-FLD, and positive confirmation of detected samples was performed by LC-MS/MS. The samples were divided into two groups, based on production or non-production of aflatoxin. We then used the Illumina MiSeq PE250 platform, and targeted the internal transcribed spacer two sequences to analyze the diversity and composition of the fungal microbiome, as well as to assess the presence of potential mycotoxin-producing fungi. Results showed that five samples were contaminated with aflatoxins, one of which exceeded the legal limits of Chinese Pharmacopeia Commission (2015). At the phylum level, the Ascomycota was the most dominant in all tested samples, with a relative abundance of 83.04–99.46%. Aspergillus (27.88–97.28%), Xerochrysium (0–28.49%), and Xeromyces (0–22.24%) were the three predominant genera. Furthermore, differences in fungal composition between the aflatoxin-contaminated and aflatoxin-free groups, as well as between different provinces were observed. A total of 74 species were identified, and four potential mycotoxin-producing fungi were detected in all samples, namely Aspergillus flavus , Aspergillus fumigatus , Fusarium poae , and Penicillium steckii. In conclusion, we report the great diversity of fungi associated with Platycladi Semen, highlight the risk to consumers of ingesting potent aflatoxin, and provide a reference for the safe application and quality improvement of Platycladi Semen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Collection areas, processing methods, and storage conditions influenced fungal community. • Vinegar processed and low temperature decreased fungal co-occurrence network complexity. • Six potential toxigenic fungi were detected. Corydalis Rhizoma (CR, Yanhusuo in Chinese) has been widely used as an analgesic in herbal medicine and functional food. Cases of fungal and mycotoxin contamination in CR have been reported. In this study, the composition and diversity of fungal microbiome in CR samples from four herbal markets and two processing methods were investigated by DNA metabarcoding. Variations of the fungal microbiome in CR during cold and conventional storage were monitored. Results showed that Aspergillus was the dominant genus and saprotroph was the dominant trophic mode. Six potential toxigenic fungi, namely, Aspergillus fumigatus , Aspergillus ostianus , Aspergillus terreus , Penicillium citrinum , Penicillium oxalicum , and Trichothecium roseum , were detected. Differences in fungal composition and diversity among various groups based on collection areas and processing methods were also observed. Moreover, the relative abundance of dominant genera in CR samples stored at different temperatures was significantly different and changed with storage time. This study is the first to reveal the influence of collection areas, processing methods, and storage conditions on the fungal microbiome in CR, which was expected to provide a basis for control strategies of fungal contamination in the industrial chain of CR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The co-occurrence of fungi and mycotoxins in various foods has been frequently reported in many countries, posing a serious threat to the health and safety of consumers. In this study, the mycobiota in five types of commercial bee pollen samples from China were first revealed by DNA metabarcoding. Meanwhile, the content of total aflatoxins in each sample was investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The results demonstrated that Cladosporium (0.16 %–89.29 %) was the most prevalent genus in bee pollen, followed by Metschnikowia (0–81.12 %), unclassified genus in the phylum Ascomycota (0–81.13 %), Kodamaea (0–73.57 %), and Penicillium (0–36.13 %). Meanwhile, none of the assayed aflatoxins were determined in the 18 batches of bee pollen samples. In addition, the fungal diversity, community composition, and trophic mode varied significantly among five groups. This study provides comprehensive information for better understanding the fungal communities and aflatoxin residues in bee pollen from different floral origins in China. [Display omitted] • The mycobiota and aflatoxins in five types of bee pollen from China were firstly revealed. • Cladosporium, Metschnikowia, Kodamaea, Penicillium, and Alternaria were dominant genera. • Significant differences in fungal community were found among different groups. • Potential toxigenic fungus Penicillium paxilli were detected. • None of the samples had quantifiable values for the aflatoxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myristicae Semen (nutmeg) has been extensively used for a long time because of its pharmaceutical properties and edible values. However, nutmeg is susceptible to fungi and mycotoxin contamination under suitable conditions during growing or post-harvest, thereby posing considerable hazards to consumers and resulting in significant economic losses. In this study, the surface fungi of nutmegs collected from producing areas and commercial markets were investigated for the first time by targeting the internal transcribed spacer 2 region using an Illumina MiSeq PE250 platform. Fungal contaminations were detected in all 13 tested samples. Aspergillus was the most prevailing fungi at the genus level with the relative abundance of 4.37%–82.81%, followed by Xerochrysium (0.36%–55.18%), Xeromyces (0.87%–86.38%), Hyphopichia (0.06%–29.14%), and Alternaria (0.03%–52.28%). Meanwhile, 108 fungal taxa were identified at the species level with six potential mycotoxin-producing fungi, such as Aspergillus fumigatus , Penicillium steckii , and Penicillium capsulatum. The differences between two groups of fungal communities were monitored. In conclusion, amplicon sequencing features a wide application prospect for fungal community analysis in spices and herbs and provides an early warning for subsequent potential mycotoxin biosynthesis. • This is the first report on fungal contamination in nutmeg using high-throughput sequencing. • Six potential mycotoxin-producing fungi were detected. • The fungal communities in two nutmeg groups exhibited statistically significant difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cassiae Semen (CS) has been widely used as roasted tea and traditional Chinese medicine for decades. However, CS is easily contaminated by fungi and mycotoxins during pre-harvest and post-harvest process, thus posing a potential threat to consumer health. In this study, we used the Illumina MiSeq PE300 platform and targeted the internal transcribed spacer 2 sequences to survey the occurrence of fungi in raw and roasted CS samples. Results showed the fungal contamination in all 12 test samples. Ascomycota was the prevailing fungus at the phylum level, with the relative abundance of 66.50%–99.42%. At the genus level, Aspergillus , Cladosporium , and Penicillium were the most dominant genera, accounting for 0.66%–85.51%, 0.20%–29.11%, and 0.11%–32.92% of the fungal reads, respectively. A total of 68 species were identified, among which six potential toxigenic fungi belonging to Aspergillus , Penicillium , Candida , and Schizophyllum genera were detected. Moreover, differences in fungal communities were observed in raw and roasted CS samples. In conclusion, amplicon sequencing is feasible for analyzing fungal communities in CS samples, which provides a new approach to investigate the fungal contamination in edible-medicinal herb, thereby ensuring food safety and drug efficacy. • Fungal contamination in medicinal and edible Cassiae Semen (CS) was analyzed based on high-throughput sequencing • Six potential toxigenic fungi belonging to Aspergillus , Penicillium , Candida , and Schizophyllum genera were detected • Differences in fungal communities were observed in raw and roasted CS samples [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ziziphi Spinosae Semen (ZSS) has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine system for decades. Under proper humidity and temperature, ZSS is easily contaminated by fungi and mycotoxins during harvest, storage, and transport, thereby posing a considerable threat to consumer health. In this study, we first used the Illumina MiSeq PE250 platform and targeted the internal transcribed spacer 2 sequences to investigate the presence of fungi in moldy and normal ZSS samples collected from five producing areas in China. Results showed that all 14 samples tested were contaminated by fungi. Ascomycota was the dominant fungus at the phylum level, accounting for 64.36–99.74% of the fungal reads. At the genus level, Aspergillus, Candida, and Wallemia were the most predominant genera, with the relative abundances of 13.52–87.87%, 0.42–64.56%, and 0.06–34.31%, respectively. Meanwhile, 70 fungal taxa were identified at the species level. Among these taxa, three potential mycotoxin-producing fungi, namely, Aspergillusflavus, A. fumigatus, and Penicillium citrinum that account for 0.30–36.29%, 0.04–7.37%, and 0.01–0.80% of the fungal reads, respectively, were detected in all ZSS samples. Moreover, significant differences in fungal communities were observed in the moldy and normal ZSS samples. In conclusion, our results indicated that amplicon sequencing is feasible for the detection and analysis of the fungal community in the ZSS samples. This study used a new approach to survey the fungal contamination in herbal materials. This new approach can provide early warning for mycotoxin contamination in herbal materials, thereby ensuring drug efficacy and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]