From essential oils to integrated storage systems: strategies for fungal and mycotoxin control in post-harvest cereals – a systematic review and bibliometric analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55779/nsb18212869Keywords:
biopreservation, essential oils, mycotoxins, nanoformulations, post-harvest, stored cereals, storage fungiAbstract
Post-harvest fungal contamination of cereals represents a major challenge to global food security because it reduces grain quality and increases the risk of mycotoxin contamination. Essential oils have attracted increasing interest as natural alternatives to synthetic fungicides. However, their direct application under real storage conditions remains limited by volatility, chemical instability, sensory impact, and variable efficacy. This review combined a bibliometric analysis with a systematic review of literature published between 2015 and 2025 to examine the evolution of research strategies related to the use of essential oils for the biopreservation of stored cereals. The bibliometric analysis revealed a field structured around major cereal matrices and storage fungi, with a progressive transition from crude essential oils to isolated bioactive compounds and advanced formulation systems. The systematic review showed growing interest in technologies designed to improve stability, bioavailability, and persistence, including nanostructured systems, encapsulation processes, active packaging, and controlled-release devices. These approaches can enhance antifungal and antimycotoxigenic efficacy while improving compatibility with post-harvest storage conditions. Overall, the findings indicate that essential oils are promising candidates for cereal biopreservation when their formulation and delivery are adapted to storage environments. Future research should prioritize formulation standardization, long-term storage trials, toxicological and sensory validation, and regulatory assessment to support sustainable industrial adoption.
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