Evaluation of chemically characterized Ocimum tenuiflorum L. essential oil as phytopreservative against fungal deterioration of Justicia adhatoda L. raw materials during storage

The stored herbal raw materials (HRMs) of Justicia adhatoda were found associated with spores of various storage fungi in which Cladosporium cladosporioides exhibited the highest relative density (25.02%) followed by Aspergillus flavus (22.49%) and A. niger (21.46%). The chemical composition of Ocimum tenuiflorum essential oil (OtEO) showed 41 considerable peaks. Eugenol (61.30%) was found as major component followed by β- Caryophyllene (11.89%), Germacrene D (9.14%), α- Cubebene (2.54%) and Carvacrol (2.04%). OtEO showed broad spectrum fungitoxicity and MIC against A. flavus DDUGU-07 was recorded at 0.5 mg/ml while aflatoxin B1 production was completely checked at 0.3 mg/ml. The high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis of fumigated HRMs of J. adhatoda reveals that OtEO was found effective in control the degradation or chemical transformation of medicinal component, vasicine found in J. adhatoda. Hence, OtEO having exclusive merit to possessing antifungal, antiaflatoxigenic and broad fungitoxic spectrum strengthening its safe exploitation as green preservative.