Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Potential of <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> and <i>Cymbopogon flexuosus</i> Essential Oils against Pure and Mixed Cultures of Foodborne Bacteria
The spread of pathogenic and food spoilage microorganisms through the food chain still faces major mitigation challenges, despite modern advances. Although multiple cleaning and disinfection procedures are available for microbial load reduction in food-related settings, microbes can still remain on...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Antibiotics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/12/3/565 |
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| author | Joana Monteiro Marques Susana Serrano Hiba Selmi Pedro Giesteira Cotovio Teresa Semedo-Lemsaddek |
| author_facet | Joana Monteiro Marques Susana Serrano Hiba Selmi Pedro Giesteira Cotovio Teresa Semedo-Lemsaddek |
| author_sort | Joana Monteiro Marques |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The spread of pathogenic and food spoilage microorganisms through the food chain still faces major mitigation challenges, despite modern advances. Although multiple cleaning and disinfection procedures are available for microbial load reduction in food-related settings, microbes can still remain on surfaces, equipment, or machinery, especially if they have the ability to form biofilms. The present study assessed the biofilm-forming properties of pure and mixed cultures of foodborne and spoilage bacteria (<i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>, <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>, <i>Aeromonas hydrophila</i>, <i>Brochothrix thermosphacta</i>), using polystyrene and stainless steel contact surfaces. Subsequently, the antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> and <i>Cymbopogon flexuosus</i> essential oils—EOs—were evaluated against these bacteria. Moreover, in silico prediction of the absorption and toxicity values of the EOs’ major constituents was also performed, perceiving the putative application in food-related settings. Overall, biofilm formation was observed for all microbes under study, at different temperatures and both contact surfaces. In polystyrene, at 25 °C, when comparing pure with mixed cultures, the combination <i>Listeria–Aeromonas</i> achieved the highest biofilm biomass. Moreover, at 4 °C, increased biofilm formation was detected in stainless steel. Regarding thyme, this EO showed promising antimicrobial features (especially against <i>A. hydrophila,</i> with a MIC of 0.60 µg/µL) and antibiofilm abilities (MBEC of 110.79 µg/µL against <i>L. monocytogenes,</i> a major concern in food settings). As for lemongrass EO, the highest antimicrobial activity, with a MIC of 0.49 µg/µL, was also observed against <i>L. monocytogenes</i>. Overall, despite promising results, the in situ effectiveness of these essential oils, alone or in combination with other antimicrobial compounds, should be further explored. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:01:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6ff0ee4ac9d14e08a29b4bcd660f3809 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-6382 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:01:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antibiotics |
| spelling | doaj.art-6ff0ee4ac9d14e08a29b4bcd660f38092023-11-17T09:14:50ZengMDPI AGAntibiotics2079-63822023-03-0112356510.3390/antibiotics12030565Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Potential of <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> and <i>Cymbopogon flexuosus</i> Essential Oils against Pure and Mixed Cultures of Foodborne BacteriaJoana Monteiro Marques0Susana Serrano1Hiba Selmi2Pedro Giesteira Cotovio3Teresa Semedo-Lemsaddek4Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1649-004 Lisboa, PortugalCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1649-004 Lisboa, PortugalLaboratory of Protein Engineering and Bioactive Molecules (LIP-MB), National Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology, University of Carthage, Carthage 1054, TunisiaLASIGE, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1649-004 Lisboa, PortugalCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1649-004 Lisboa, PortugalThe spread of pathogenic and food spoilage microorganisms through the food chain still faces major mitigation challenges, despite modern advances. Although multiple cleaning and disinfection procedures are available for microbial load reduction in food-related settings, microbes can still remain on surfaces, equipment, or machinery, especially if they have the ability to form biofilms. The present study assessed the biofilm-forming properties of pure and mixed cultures of foodborne and spoilage bacteria (<i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>, <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>, <i>Aeromonas hydrophila</i>, <i>Brochothrix thermosphacta</i>), using polystyrene and stainless steel contact surfaces. Subsequently, the antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> and <i>Cymbopogon flexuosus</i> essential oils—EOs—were evaluated against these bacteria. Moreover, in silico prediction of the absorption and toxicity values of the EOs’ major constituents was also performed, perceiving the putative application in food-related settings. Overall, biofilm formation was observed for all microbes under study, at different temperatures and both contact surfaces. In polystyrene, at 25 °C, when comparing pure with mixed cultures, the combination <i>Listeria–Aeromonas</i> achieved the highest biofilm biomass. Moreover, at 4 °C, increased biofilm formation was detected in stainless steel. Regarding thyme, this EO showed promising antimicrobial features (especially against <i>A. hydrophila,</i> with a MIC of 0.60 µg/µL) and antibiofilm abilities (MBEC of 110.79 µg/µL against <i>L. monocytogenes,</i> a major concern in food settings). As for lemongrass EO, the highest antimicrobial activity, with a MIC of 0.49 µg/µL, was also observed against <i>L. monocytogenes</i>. Overall, despite promising results, the in situ effectiveness of these essential oils, alone or in combination with other antimicrobial compounds, should be further explored.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/12/3/565foodbornepathogenicspoilage bacteriabiofilmessential oilsantimicrobial |
| spellingShingle | Joana Monteiro Marques Susana Serrano Hiba Selmi Pedro Giesteira Cotovio Teresa Semedo-Lemsaddek Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Potential of <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> and <i>Cymbopogon flexuosus</i> Essential Oils against Pure and Mixed Cultures of Foodborne Bacteria Antibiotics foodborne pathogenic spoilage bacteria biofilm essential oils antimicrobial |
| title | Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Potential of <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> and <i>Cymbopogon flexuosus</i> Essential Oils against Pure and Mixed Cultures of Foodborne Bacteria |
| title_full | Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Potential of <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> and <i>Cymbopogon flexuosus</i> Essential Oils against Pure and Mixed Cultures of Foodborne Bacteria |
| title_fullStr | Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Potential of <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> and <i>Cymbopogon flexuosus</i> Essential Oils against Pure and Mixed Cultures of Foodborne Bacteria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Potential of <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> and <i>Cymbopogon flexuosus</i> Essential Oils against Pure and Mixed Cultures of Foodborne Bacteria |
| title_short | Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Potential of <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> and <i>Cymbopogon flexuosus</i> Essential Oils against Pure and Mixed Cultures of Foodborne Bacteria |
| title_sort | antimicrobial and antibiofilm potential of i thymus vulgaris i and i cymbopogon flexuosus i essential oils against pure and mixed cultures of foodborne bacteria |
| topic | foodborne pathogenic spoilage bacteria biofilm essential oils antimicrobial |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/12/3/565 |
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