Determination of the changes of antifungal properties of Satureja hortensis, Thymus vulgaris and Thymbra spicata exposed to gamma irradiation

In this research, changes in the antifungal activity of the extract of Satureja hortensis, Thymus vulgaris and Thymbra spicata exposed to gamma irradiation against two aflatoxigenic moulds Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999 and 465 were investigated. The samples of dry plant leaf powder were irradiated with doses of 1.2, 3.0, 5.1 kGy. While the antifungal activity of S. hortensis with 0 and 1.2 kGy dose irradiation against A. parasiticus NRRL 2999 was found to be similar, it decreased with 3.0 and 5.1 kGy irradiation doses (P<0.05). On the contrary, antifungal activity of T. spicata increased until 3.0 kGy and then it decreased with 5.1 kGy irradiation dose (P<0.05). For T. vulgaris, an increase of irradiation dose resulted in a decrease of antifungal activity against aflatoxigenic moulds. This research shows that antifungal properties of some spices can be changed by gamma irradiation.