Investigation of the antibacterial mechanism of aflatoxins in the BioArena system.

The influence of monomethylated basic amino acids [NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (MMA) and Nepsilon-monomethyl-L-lysine (MML)] and ozone capturers (indigo carmine, d-limonene) on the antibacterial effect of the mycotoxins aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 was studied in BioArena, which is a complex bioautographic system especially suitable for investigating biochemical interactions. In the presence of the formaldehyde precursors MMA or MML, the antibacterial-toxic activity of all the aflatoxins against the phytopathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. phaseolicola was enhanced dose-dependently. Indigo carmine and d-limonene, in appropriate concentrations, decreased the inhibition zones of aflatoxins. These results support the original idea that HCHO and its derivative 03 may be involved in the antibacterial activity of aflatoxins and so, potentially, in their known toxic effect.