Titre du document / Document title

Efficacy of Plant Essential Oils against Foodborne Pathogens and Spoilage Bacteria Associated with Ready-to-Eat Vegetables : Antimicrobial and Sensory Screening

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

GUTIERREZ Jorge ⁽¹⁾ ; RODRIGUEZ Gabriel ⁽¹⁾ ; BARRY-RYAN Catherine ⁽¹⁾ ; BOURKE Paula ⁽¹⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ School of Food Science and Environmental Health, Dublin Institute of Technology, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin, IRLANDE

Résumé / Abstract

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of plant essential oils (EOs) against foodborne pathogens and key spoilage bacteria pertinent to ready-to-eat vegetables and to screen the selected EOs for sensory acceptability. The EOs basil, caraway, fennel, lemon balm, marjoram, nutmeg, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, and thyme were evaluated. The bacteria evaluated were Listeria spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus spp., Bacillus cereus, Salmonella, Enterobacter spp., Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas spp. Quantitative antimicrobial analyses were performed using an absorbance-based microplate assay. Efficacy was compared using MIC, the half maximum inhibitory concentration, and the increase in lag phase. Generally, gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive to EOs than were gram-negative bacteria, and Listeria monocytogenes strains were among the most sensitive. Of the spoilage organisms, Pseudomonas spp. were the most resistant. Oregano and thyme EOs had the highest activity against all the tested bacteria. Marjoram and basil EOs had selectively high activity against B. cereus, Enterobacter aerogenes, E. coli, and Salmonella, and lemon balm and sage EOs had adequate activity against L. monocytogenes and S. aureus. Within bacterial species, EO efficacy was dependent on strain and in some cases the origin of the strain. On a carrot model product, basil, lemon balm, marjoram, oregano, and thyme EOs were deemed organoleptically acceptable, but only oregano and marjoram EOs were deemed acceptable for lettuce. Selected EOs may be useful as natural and safe additives for promoting the safety and quality of ready-to-eat vegetables.

Revue / Journal Title

Journal of food protection    ISSN  0362-028X   CODEN JFPRDR 

Source / Source

2008, vol. 71, n^o9, pp. 1846-1854 [9 page(s) (article)] (35 ref.)

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

International Association for Food Protection, Des Moines, IA, ETATS-UNIS  (1977) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Analysis method

;

Screening

;

Antimicrobial agent

;

Vegetables

;

Bacteria

;

Pathogenic

;

Microorganism

;

Essential oil plant

;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Méthode analyse

;

Criblage

;

Antimicrobien

;

Légume

;

Bactérie

;

Pathogène

;

Microorganisme

;

Plante à huiles essentielles

;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Método análisis

;

Cernido

;

Antimicrobiano

;

Hortalizas

;

Bacteria

;

Patógeno

;

Microorganismo

;

Planta de aceites esenciales

;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 547, 35400018556853.0120