Mycotoxigenic Fungi Associated with Cyperus esculentus L. on retail in Lagos Metropolis and its Public Health Implications

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to isolate and identify mycotoxigenic fungi associated with C. esculentus L. on retail in Lagos, Nigeria, in an attempt to protect the populace from mycotoxicosis and cancers that could emanate from its consumption. Fifty (50g) of both dry and fresh samples of tiger nuts were purchased by random sampling from three different markets in Lagos. These samples were ground into powder, and fungal isolation was carried out by spread plating of 100μl of serially diluted samples on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) containing 500mg/litre streptomycin. Molds and yeasts identified using molecular characterization with internally transcribed spacer regions ITS3F and ITS4R were Aspergillus niger, A. terreus, Penicillium guaibinense, P. citrinum, Candida sorboxylosa and Pichia kudraivzevii. These molds have been known to be mycotoxigenic and the yeasts pathogenic on mammals including humans. Hence, consumption of tiger nuts could be of public health concerns.