The present review outlines the antifungal activity of several secondary metabolites against growth of Aspergillus flavus as well as production of aflatoxins. There are different types of secondary metabolites such as terpenes, terpenoids, flavonoids, cyanogenic glycosides, saponins etc. These secondary metabolites are produced by cereal (host) crops including many other plants. A. flavus is a pathogenic fungus produces aflatoxins, which are considered as toxigenic, carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic organic compounds. Here, we have discussed about the effects of essential oils of Origanum vulgare, Melaleuca cojeputi (white wood), Curcuma longa (turmeric) leaves, and extracts of Camellia sinensis (pure tea), chlorophyllous plants, Cymbopogon citratus, Moringa oleifera, Ocimum gratissimum and Clerodendrum volubile against the mycelial growth of A. flavus as well as production of aflatoxins. We also tried to correlate their biological properties with secondary metabolites, which are found in host plants of A. flavus. We concluded that above mentioned natural compounds have good potential to arrest the mycelial growth of A. flavus as well as production of aflatoxins, and there might be possibility that plants secondary metabolites are playing a key role behind the anti-aflatoxigenic as well as fungicidal activities of these natural compounds. Because of this, we can say that these plants secondary metabolites can be used as substitute against the infectivity of A. flavus as well as aflatoxins production.
