Lichen compounds that inhibit mycotoxin production

Abstract

Described herein are methods for obtaining useful compounds from lichens.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising (a) extracting a lichen sample with alcohol, ethyl acetate, acetone or a combination thereof to provide a lichen extract; (b) mixing the extract, a component of the extract, or a compound obtained from the extract with  Aspergillus parasiticus  cells or  Fusarium graminearum  cells to form an assay mixture; and (c) measuring whether growth, sporulation, or mycotoxin production by the  Aspergillus parasiticus  cells or  Fusarium graminearum  cells is different from a control. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control is an average amount of growth, sporulation, or mycotoxin production by  Aspergillus parasiticus  cells or  Fusarium graminearum  cells that were not mixed with the extract, the component of the extract, or the compound obtained from the extract. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the assay mixture comprises a culture medium that promotes mycotoxin production by the  Aspergillus parasiticus  cells or the  Fusarium graminearum  cells. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising isolating an extract component or compound that reduces the growth, sporulation, or mycotoxin production by the  Aspergillus parasiticus  cells. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising isolating an extract component or compound that reduces the growth, sporulation, or mycotoxin production by the  Fusarium graminearum  cells. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cells are  Aspergillus parasiticus  strain B62 cells. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising isolating a component or compound from the lichen extract. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising mixing the component of the extract, or a compound obtained from the extract with  Aspergillus parasiticus  cells or  Fusarium graminearum  cells to form an assay mixture; and measuring whether growth, sporulation, or mycotoxin production by the  Aspergillus parasiticus  cells or  Fusarium graminearum  cells is different from a control. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying the lichen extract, the component of the extract, or a compound obtained from the extract to structure, to a surface, to an agricultural crop, to a storage bin, to a storage facility, to an animal feed, to a plant seed, to a nut, to a plant part, to a plant product, or to a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein toxin content of a surface, an agricultural crop, a storage bin, a storage facility, an animal feed, a plant seed, a nut, a plant part, a plant product, or a combination thereof is reduced by applying a composition of the lichen extract, the component of the extract, or the compound obtained from the extract to the surface, agricultural crop, storage bin, storage facility, animal feed, plant seed, nut, plant part, plant product, or the combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the mycotoxin content is reduced by at least 50%. 
     
     
         12 . An extract obtained by the method of  claim 1  that reduces mycotoxin content by at least 50%. 
     
     
         13 . A composition comprising a lichen extract, a component of a lichen extract, or a compound obtained from a lichen extract, wherein the lichen extract is a lichen extracted by an alcohol, ethyl acetate, acetone or a combination thereof.