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ISSN 0582-9879 Acta Biochim et Biophysica Sinica 2004, 36(4):277-283 CN 31-1300/Q

Effects of Citral on Aspergillus flavus Spores by Quasi-elastic Light Scattering
and Multiplex Microanalysis Techniques

Man LUO1,2, Li-Ke JIANG2, Yao-Xiong HUANG3, Ming XIAO4, Bo LI4, and Guo-Lin ZOU1*
( 1 College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China;
2 College of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China;
3 Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ji'nan University, Guangzhou 510632, China;
4 Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, the Institute of Biodiversity Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China )

Abstract Citral refined from Litsea cubeba oil has been found to have a strong influence on fungi, especially Aspergillus flavus. Multiplex microanalysis and quasi-elastic light scattering techniques were applied to study the effects of citral on Aspergillus flavus spores from the levels of membrane, organelle and intracellular macromolecule. It was found that citral injured the wall and the membrane of A. flavus spore, resulting in decrease of its elasticity. After entering the cell, citral not only influenced the genetic expression of mitochondrion reduplication and its morphology, but also changed the aggregation of protein-like macromolecules. As a result, cells, organelles and macromolecules lost their normal structures and functions, eventually leading to the loss of germination ability of A. flavus spores. Since Litsea cubeba oil as food additive and antifungal agent is safe and less poisonous, it is important to elucidate the inhibitory mechanisms of Litsea cubeba oil on the germination ability of A. flavus spore.

Key words citral; Aspergillus flavus spore; multiplex microanalysis techniques; quasi-elastic light scattering technique

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Received: February 1, 2004 Accepted: February 26, 2004
This work was supported by a grant from the Department of National Archives of China (No. 903-protect-02).
*Corresponding author: Tel, 86-551-2822298; Fax, 86-551-2822298; E-mail, xionglu@ustc.edu.cn