Antibacterial Potential of Essential Oils Against <i>E. coli</i> and <i>Salmonella</i> spp. in Minimally Processed Foods

Antibacterial Potential of Essential Oils Against <i>E. coli</i> and <i>Salmonella</i> spp. in Minimally Processed Foods

Minimally processed foods (MPFs), often considered ready-to-eat, do not undergo cooking and therefore require proper handling and preparation to ensure safety. If not handled correctly, these foods can serve as a pathway for diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria, including <i>Escherichia coli...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Aline Sitowski, Gladis Aver Ribeiro, Emma J. Murphy, Gustavo Waltzer Fehrenbach
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Bacteria
Subjects:
foodborne disease
essential oil
ready-to-eat
<i>E. coli</i>
<i>Salmonella</i>
MIC
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1334/4/2/20
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Summary:Minimally processed foods (MPFs), often considered ready-to-eat, do not undergo cooking and therefore require proper handling and preparation to ensure safety. If not handled correctly, these foods can serve as a pathway for diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria, including <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Salmonella</i> spp. The antibacterial activity of essential oils (EOs) has been increasingly studied as a tool for controlling microorganisms in the food sector. Therefore, we aimed to verify the contamination of MPF by <i>E. coli</i> and <i>Salmonella</i> and to test the sensitivity of these strains to <i>Copaifera langsdorffii</i>, <i>Schinus terebinthifolius</i>, <i>Citrus reticulata</i>, <i>Eucalyptus citriodora</i>, <i>Elettaria cardamomum</i>, <i>Ocimum basilicum</i>, and <i>Eugenia caryophyllus</i> EOs using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) methods. From 25 MPF samples, one <i>E. coli</i> strain and one <i>Salmonella</i> spp. were isolated. <i>C. langsdorffii</i> and <i>C. reticulata</i> EOs did not show antibacterial activity, while <i>S. terebinthifolius</i> and <i>E. citriodora</i> inhibited the growth of both strains. The <i>E. cardamomum</i>, <i>O. basilicum</i>, and <i>E. caryophyllus</i> EOs presented inhibitory and bactericidal responses at concentrations 0.78, 0.39, and 0.19% (<i>v</i>/<i>v</i>), respectively, compared to the two isolated strains. The present study reinforces the antibacterial potential of EOs and suggests their application in the MPF production chain.
ISSN:2674-1334

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