Hospital Practices and Research

In vitro Activity of Encapsulated Lactic Acid Bacteria on Aflatoxin Production and Growth of Aspergillus Spp

Articles in Press

Authors

Rouhollah Mohammadi
Sepideh Abbaszadeh

Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Faculty of Health, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

10.30491/hpr.2026.256800
Abstract
This study investigated the potential of simultaneously using Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA-5), Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG), and Lactobacillus casei (LC-01) in both encapsulated (E) and non-encapsulated (NE) forms to inhibit the growth of Aspergillus spp. and aflatoxin production by A. flavus. The agar well diffusion method was used to assess fungal growth inhibition. Aflatoxin quantification was performed via HPLC. The lactic acid bacteria showed high antifungal activity and significantly reduced the production of AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2 in both forms compared to the control. The total aflatoxin reduction was 94.1% (E) and 95.5% (NE). These results suggest that these lactic acid bacteria, used simultaneously, can prevent the growth and aflatoxin production of toxigenic Aspergillus.

Keywords

Aflatoxin
Antifungal Activity
Aspergillus
Lactic Acid Bacteria
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Hospital Practices and Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 10 November 2026

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