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...

Full description

Saved in:
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:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1334/4/2/20
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849521434032865280
author Aline Sitowski
Gladis Aver Ribeiro
Emma J. Murphy
Gustavo Waltzer Fehrenbach
author_facet Aline Sitowski
Gladis Aver Ribeiro
Emma J. Murphy
Gustavo Waltzer Fehrenbach
author_sort Aline Sitowski
collection DOAJ
description 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.
format Article
id doaj-art-0afd81ad7206444a9cc36725db9de2c2
institution Kabale University
issn 2674-1334
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Bacteria
spelling doaj-art-0afd81ad7206444a9cc36725db9de2c22025-08-20T03:32:27ZengMDPI AGBacteria2674-13342025-04-01422010.3390/bacteria4020020Antibacterial Potential of Essential Oils Against <i>E. coli</i> and <i>Salmonella</i> spp. in Minimally Processed FoodsAline Sitowski0Gladis Aver Ribeiro1Emma J. Murphy2Gustavo Waltzer Fehrenbach3Institute of Biology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96160-000, BrazilInstitute of Biology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96160-000, BrazilBioengineering Organ-on-Chip Research Group (BOC), Centre for Applied Bioscience Research, Limerick Campus, Technological University of the Shannon—Midlands Midwest, V94 E8YF Limerick, IrelandBioengineering Organ-on-Chip Research Group (BOC), Centre for Applied Bioscience Research, Limerick Campus, Technological University of the Shannon—Midlands Midwest, V94 E8YF Limerick, IrelandMinimally 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1334/4/2/20foodborne diseaseessential oilready-to-eat<i>E. coli</i><i>Salmonella</i>MIC
spellingShingle Aline Sitowski
Gladis Aver Ribeiro
Emma J. Murphy
Gustavo Waltzer Fehrenbach
Antibacterial Potential of Essential Oils Against <i>E. coli</i> and <i>Salmonella</i> spp. in Minimally Processed Foods
Bacteria
foodborne disease
essential oil
ready-to-eat
<i>E. coli</i>
<i>Salmonella</i>
MIC
title Antibacterial Potential of Essential Oils Against <i>E. coli</i> and <i>Salmonella</i> spp. in Minimally Processed Foods
title_full Antibacterial Potential of Essential Oils Against <i>E. coli</i> and <i>Salmonella</i> spp. in Minimally Processed Foods
title_fullStr Antibacterial Potential of Essential Oils Against <i>E. coli</i> and <i>Salmonella</i> spp. in Minimally Processed Foods
title_full_unstemmed Antibacterial Potential of Essential Oils Against <i>E. coli</i> and <i>Salmonella</i> spp. in Minimally Processed Foods
title_short Antibacterial Potential of Essential Oils Against <i>E. coli</i> and <i>Salmonella</i> spp. in Minimally Processed Foods
title_sort antibacterial potential of essential oils against i e coli i and i salmonella i spp in minimally processed foods
topic foodborne disease
essential oil
ready-to-eat
<i>E. coli</i>
<i>Salmonella</i>
MIC
url https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1334/4/2/20
work_keys_str_mv AT alinesitowski antibacterialpotentialofessentialoilsagainstiecoliiandisalmonellaisppinminimallyprocessedfoods
AT gladisaverribeiro antibacterialpotentialofessentialoilsagainstiecoliiandisalmonellaisppinminimallyprocessedfoods
AT emmajmurphy antibacterialpotentialofessentialoilsagainstiecoliiandisalmonellaisppinminimallyprocessedfoods
AT gustavowaltzerfehrenbach antibacterialpotentialofessentialoilsagainstiecoliiandisalmonellaisppinminimallyprocessedfoods