Study on molecular mechanism of antimicrobial activity of cinnamaldehyde and citral on Aspergillus flavus

Objective To investigate molecular mechanism of antimicrobial activity of cinnamaldehyde(cinn.)and citral on Aspergillus flavus growth.Methods Saponification and extraction of the nonsaponifiable lipids(NSLs)of Aspergillus flavus were carried out after 26.5℃ for three-day incubation with varied concentrations of cinn.and citral.The contents of ergosterol in NSLs were determined by HPLC.Results After the treatment of cinn.and citral,the contents of ergosterol in Aspergillus flavus decreased obviously.Conclusion Cinn.and citral interfered the synthesis of ergosterol biosynthesis in Aspergillus flavus;The anti-Aspergillus flavus mechanism of cinn.and citral may be involved with inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis.