Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. essential oil as a natural alternative for the conservation of beef patties stored under refrigeration

Nanocomposite Films of Babassu Coconut Mesocarp and Green ZnO Nanoparticles for Application in Antimicrobial Food Packaging

In this work, novel nanocomposite films based on babassu coconut mesocarp and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), synthesized by a green route, were produced for application as food packaging films. The films were prepared using the casting method containing different contents of ZnO NPs (0 wt%, 0.1 wt%, 0.5 wt%, and 1.0 wt%). The films were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), instrumental color analysis, and optical properties. The water vapor permeability (WVP) and tensile strength of films were also determined. The antimicrobial activity of the films against cooked turkey ham samples contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus was investigated. The results showed that incorporating ZnO NPs into babassu mesocarp matrices influenced the structure of the biopolymer chains and the color of the films. The BM/ZnO-0.5 film (0.5 wt% ZnO NPs) showed better thermal, mechanical, and WVP properties. Furthermore, the synergistic effect of babassu mesocarp and ZnO NPs in the BM/ZnO-0.5 film improved the antimicrobial properties of the material, reducing the microbial count of S. aureus in cooked turkey ham samples stored under refrigeration for 7 days. Thus, the films produced in this study showed promising antimicrobial packaging materials for processed foods.

Shelf life extending of probiotic beef patties with polylactic acid-ajwain essential oil films and stress effects on Bacillus coagulans

Meat and meat products are prone to the microbial and chemical spoilage, due to the high nutritional content. This study investigated the effect of polylactic acid (PLA) films incorporated with ajwain essential oil (AEO) on microbial (total viable count [TVC], psychrotrophic bacterial count [PTC], Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp., yeast and mold (Y&M), and also Bacillus coagulans [BCG]), chemical (pH, peroxide value [PV], thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance [TBARS], and TVN values), and sensorial properties of beef patties, as well as survivability of BCG during refrigerated storage. Results showed that all microbial counts of samples were significantly increased, except BCG, during storage but the lowest TVC of samples was achieved in samples wrapped with PLA-1% AEO (8 log colony forming units per gram [CFU/g]) at 12th of storage, which is significantly lower than control treatments (10.66 log CFU/g). The best results in all treatments are those wrapped by PLA-1% AEO in all evaluated characteristics. At the final day of storage, PTC (8.82 log CFU/g), Enterobacteriaceae (5.05 log CFU/g), Pseudomonas spp. (9.08 log CFU/g), Y&M (4.69 log CFU/g), and also pH (4.5), PV (5.12 meq/kg), TBARS (2.92 MDA/kg), and TVN (14.43 mgN/100 g) values of PLA-1% AEO treatments were significantly lower than control samples. AEO-PLA films reduce the survival of BCG in raw patties, which reached 6.19 log CFU/g in PLA-1% AEO treatments, although increasing the concentration of AEO in packaging PLA films led to the maintenance of BCG viability during the cooking process by increasing the AEO in PLA films. Overall, results showed shelf life of beef patties is extended 3 days more (150%) by wrapping with PLA films incorporated with 1% AEO.

Transcriptional Profiling of the Effect of Coleus amboinicus L. Essential Oil against Salmonella Typhimurium Biofilm Formation

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium cause infections primarily through foodborne transmission and remains a significant public health concern. The biofilm formation of this bacteria also contributes to their multidrug-resistant nature. Essential oils from medicinal plants are considered potential alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Therefore, this study assessed the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of Coleus amboinicus essential oil (EO-CA) against S. Typhimurium ATCC 14028. Seventeen chemical compounds of EO-CA were identified, and carvacrol (38.26%) was found to be the main constituent. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of EO-CA for S. Typhimurium planktonic growth was 1024 µg/mL while the minimum bactericidal concentration was 1024 µg/mL. EO-CA at sub-MIC (≥1/16× MIC) exhibited antibiofilm activity against the prebiofilm formation of S. Typhimurium at 24 h. Furthermore, EO-CA (≥1/4× MIC) inhibited postbiofilm formation at 24 and 48 h (p < 0.05). Transcriptional profiling revealed that the EO-CA-treated group at 1/2× MIC had 375 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 106 of which were upregulated and 269 were downregulated. Five significantly downregulated virulent DEGs responsible for motility (flhD, fljB, and fimD), curli fimbriae (csgD), and invasion (hilA) were screened via quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). This study suggests the potential of EO-CA as an effective antimicrobial agent for combating planktonic and biofilm formation of Salmonella.

Can droplet size influence antibacterial activity in ultrasound-prepared essential oil nanoemulsions?

Essential oil nanoemulsion may have improved antibacterial properties over pure oil and can be used for food preservation. Ultrasonic cavitation is the most common mechanism for producing nanoemulsions, and the impact of processing parameters on droplet properties needs to be elucidated. A systematic literature search was performed in four databases (Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed), and 987 articles were found, 16 of which were eligible for the present study. A meta-analysis was performed to qualitatively assess which process parameters (power, sonication time, essential oil, and tween 80 concentration) can influence the final droplet size and polydispersity and how droplet size is associated with antibacterial activity. We observed that power, essential oil, and tween 80 concentrations added during processing are the critical variables for forming smaller droplets. Ratios of up to 3:1 (surfactant:oil) can produce droplets smaller than 180 nm with antibacterial properties superior to pure oil or isolated compounds. The improved properties of nanoemulsions are associated with the size and chemical composition of the droplet since the proportion of the hydrophobic core (EO) and the hydrophilic outer layer (Tween 80) directly influences the antibacterial mechanism of action.

Potential of Essential Oils in the Control of Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen, the causative agent of listeriosis. Infections typically occur through consumption of foods, such as meats, fisheries, milk, vegetables, and fruits. Today, chemical preservatives are used in foods; however, due to their effects on human health, attention is increasingly turning to natural decontamination practices. One option is the application of essential oils (EOs) with antibacterial features, since EOs are considered by many authorities as being safe. In this review, we aimed to summarize the results of recent research focusing on EOs with antilisterial activity. We review different methods via which the antilisterial effect and the antimicrobial mode of action of EOs or their compounds can be investigated. In the second part of the review, results of those studies from the last 10 years are summarized, in which EOs with antilisterial effects were applied in and on different food matrices. This section only included those studies in which EOs or their pure compounds were tested alone, without combining them with any additional physical or chemical procedure or additive. Tests were performed at different temperatures and, in certain cases, by applying different coating materials. Although certain coatings can enhance the antilisterial effect of an EO, the most effective way is to mix the EO into the food matrix. In conclusion, the application of EOs is justified in the food industry as food preservatives and could help to eliminate this zoonotic bacterium from the food chain.

Antioxidant, Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activity of Nanoemulsion-Based Natural Compound Delivery Systems Compared with Non-Nanoemulsified Versions

This study aimed to develop nanoemulsions with a focus on improving the bioactivity of oregano essential oil (OEO), carvacrol and thymol for possible food applications. Nanoemulsions were prepared with acoustic cavitation using ultrasound. The nanodroplets had average diameters of 54.47, 81.66 and 84.07 nm for OEO, thymol and carvacrol, respectively. The main compound in OEO was carvacrol (74%), and the concentration in the nanoemulsions was 9.46 mg/mL for OEO and the isolated compounds. The effects of droplet size reduction on antioxidant, antibacterial and antibiofilm activity were evaluated. Regarding antioxidant activity, the nanoemulsions performed better at the same concentration, with inhibitions >45% of the DPPH radical and significant differences compared with their non-nanoemulsified versions (p < 0.05). The nanoemulsions' minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and non-nanoemulsified compounds were evaluated against foodborne pathogens with inhibition ranges between 0.147 and 2.36 mg/mL. All evaluated pathogens were more sensitive to nanoemulsions, with reductions of up to four times in MIC compared with non-nanoemulsified versions. E. coli and S. Enteritidis were the most sensitive bacteria to the carvacrol nanoemulsion with MICs of 0.147 mg/mL. Concerning antibiofilm activity, nanoemulsions at concentrations up to four times lower than non-nanoemulsified versions showed inhibition of bacterial adhesion >67.2% and removal of adhered cells >57.7%. Overall, the observed effects indicate that droplet size reduction improved the bioactivity of OEO, carvacrol and thymol, suggesting that nanoemulsion-based delivery systems for natural compounds may be alternatives for food applications compared with free natural compounds.

Microwave-Assisted Hydrodistillation of Essential Oil from Plectranthus amboinicus: Evaluation of Its Antifungal Effect and Chemical Composition

Fusarium wilt, a vascular syndrome in a wide range of plants, is caused by the pathogen Fusarium Oxysporum. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the antifungal effect of four essential oils (EOs) (Plectranthus amboinicus, Syzygium aromaticum, Lippia alba, and Rosmarinus officinalis), which were obtained by using microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAH), against F. oxysporum. The yield obtained from P. amboinicus with the use of MAH was 0.2%, which was higher than that of a conventional extraction; its extraction time was also shorter. For concentrations of 100 and 300 μL/L, P. amboinicus caused an inhibition rate of 27.2 and 55.7%, respectively, while S. aromaticum caused an inhibition rate of 23.1 and 87.3%, respectively. It was observed that increasing the concentration also increased the % inhibition rate. The extracts of L. alba and R. officinalis caused an inhibition rate of 14.5 and 14.7% at 500 µL/L, respectively, at 10 days of incubation, while at this concentration, P. amboinicus and S. aromaticum achieved 100%. The major chemical compounds of P. amboinicus were carvacrol (41.20%), o-cymene (11.61%), caryophyllene (11.45%), α-bergamotene (7.71%), and caryophyllene oxide (4.62%), and these monoterpene hydrocarbons were responsible for the biological activity. The essential oil of P. amboinicus in appropriate concentrations is a potent antifungal agent that could be used for the control of F. oxysporum.