Inhibition of Aspergillus flavus growth and aflatoxins production on peanuts over α-Fe2O3 nanorods under sunlight irradiation

Peanut is an important resource of edible oil and digestible protein in daily life, which is rich in the nutriments and antioxidants such as vitamins, minerals and polyphenols. However, peanut is susceptible to the contamination of Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus), which can produce highly carcinogenic toxins that brings serious threats to human health and food safety. Exploring green and effective methods to control A. flavus is meaningful. Herein, a green and economical way to control A. flavus on peanuts was demonstrated. It was found that the growth of A. flavus hyphae and germination of its spores could be inhibited in the presence of α-Fe2O3 nanorods under sunlight irradiation according to the agar diffusion method, flat colony counting method and fluorescence-based live/dead test. The diameter of inhibition zone was 22.3 ± 0.2 mm and the inhibition rate of spores germination was about 60 ± 5%, when the concentration of α-Fe2O3 was 10 mg/mL for 7 h sunlight irradiation. Most important, α-Fe2O3 showed the photocatalytic inhibition of A. flavus on peanuts under sunlight irradiation with the inhibition rate of about 90 ± 5%, and the production of aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin B2 were reduced by 90 ± 2% and 70 ± 3%, respectively. By comparing the fat contents, protein contents, acid value, peroxide value and antioxidative compositions of peanuts, it was found that there was no obvious effect on the quality of peanuts after inhibition treatment. The findings provide a green, safe and economical strategy to control A. flavus on peanuts, which may be as a promising way to be used in food and agro-food preservation.