Journal of Food Research; Vol. 10, No. 6; 2021 ISSN 1927-0887 E-ISSN 1927-0895 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education 10 An in Vitro Antifungal and Antiaflatoxigenic Properties of Commiphora myrrha and Prunus mahaleb Saifeldin A. F. El-Nagerabi 1, 2 , Mohammed S. R. Al-Maqbali 2 , Khalid M. S. Alabri 2 & Abdulkadir E. Elshafie 3 1 Department of Biology, School of Applied and Industrial Sciences, University of Juba, Juba, P.O. Box 82, Republic of South Sudan 2 Department of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Nizwa, P.O. Box 33, PC 616, Birkat Al Mouz, Nizwa, Oman 3 Department of Biology, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 36, PC 123, Al Khoud, Muscat, Oman Correspondence: Saifeldin A. F. El-Nagerabi, Department of Biology, School of Applied and Industrial Sciences, University of Juba, Juba, P.O. Box 82, Republic of South Sudan. Tel: 211-918-829-908. E-mail: nagerabi@hotmail.om; nagerabisaf@gmail.com Received: September 22, 2021 Accepted: November 9, 2021 Online Published: November 21, 2021 doi:10.5539/jfr.v10n6p10 URL: https://doi.org/10.5539/jfr.v10n6p10 Abstract Aflatoxins and especially aflatoxin B, are the devastating contaminant of food and feed products with hazardous effects to mankind and his domestic animals. These investigations were set to evaluate the effect of various levels of Commiphora myrrha resin (1.0, 1.25, 2.25, and 3.25 g/100 ml) and Prunus mahaleb seed extract (0.75, 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 g/100 ml) on the growth and aflatoxin secretion by two aflatoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. The two plant extracts significantly (p<0.05) decreased aflatoxin secretion, and inhibited the fungal growth. Resin of C. myrrha displayed 51.9-95.7% reduction in total aflatoxin secretion by A. flavus, and 46.9-92% for A. parasiticus, and Seed extract of P. mahaleb decreased aflatoxin up to 53.7-95.8% and 40-94.7%, respectively. The inhibition of aflatoxin B (B 1 and B 2 ) by myrrh resin and seed extract of mahaleb ranged between 51.7-93.5, 50-93.6% (A. flavus) and 39.5-89.7%, 37.9-93% (A. parasiticus). The mycelial dry weight of A. flavus and A. parasiticus ws decreased up to 46.1-58.7%, 28.9-51.3% (Myrrh resin), and between 45-56.9%, 33.3-55.9% (Mahaleb seed extract). Nonetheless, the two plant extracts did not detoxify aflatoxin B 1 . Therefore, it apparent that the resin of C. myrrha and seed extract of P. mahaleb affected the biosynthesis pathway of aflatoxins. Thus, they can be recommended as effective natural plant biopreservative against aflatoxin contamination of food and feed products. Keywords: Aflatoxigenic, Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus, Commiphora myrrha, Prunus mahaleb 1. Introduction Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl. (syn. C. molmol), myrrh (Mor Hijazi, in Arabic) of the family Burseraceae, is small tree or large shrub which found in dry and arid regions of Ethiopia, Somalia, North Kenya, North Africa, and Middle East (Abd-Ulgadir et al., 2015; Ali, 2007; Omer et al., 2011; Su et al., 2011). Myrrh gum-resin is the dried resinous exudate from plant stem of different Commiphora species. C. myrrha has various traditional uses in food and drink as flavoring, perfumes, and as fragrance in other cosmetics (Ali, 2007; Marshall, 2004). The natural gums are of high biocompatibility, available at low cost, low toxicity, and eco-friendly compared to the synthetic ones (Yusuf and Usman, 2011). Medicinally, myrrh gum has been extensively used for treatment of various diseases (El Ashry et al., 2003; Shen and Lou, 2008), rheumatic complaints, tooth decay, gum disease, and helminth infection (Abd-Ulgadir et al., 2015; Haffor et al., 2010), antiseptic, carminative, anti-inflammatory, and tonic in dyspepsia (Omer el al., 2011; Su et al., 2012). It exhibited numerous biological activities as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, smooth muscles relaxing, antimalarial, anticandidal, antischistosomal, larvicidal, molluscicidal, anticancer, and hypolipidemic effect (Al-Abdalall, 2013; Al-Daihan et al., 2013; Ali et al., 2008; Dolara et al., 2000; Gadir et al., 2014; Shen et al., 2012; Shulan el al., 2011). Its antimicrobial activity, food preservation, pharmaceuticals, alternative medicine and natural therapies has been reported by many authors (Abd-Ulgadir et al., 2015). Antimicrobial activity against gram-positive organisms, Candida albicans, and other microorganisms was observed (Al-Daihan et al.,