Fruit wine produced from cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica DC) by both free and immobilised yeast cell fermentation

The aims of this work were to elaborate a fruit wine from cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica DC) pulp and to compare the fermentations conducted with free and with Ca-alginate immobilised cells. Two strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (UFLA CA11 and CAT-1) were tested and four fermentation batches were performed, in triplicate, at 22 °C for 336 h: UFLA CA11 in free and immobilised cells and CAT-1in free and immobilised cells. Fermentation time and ethanol production were influenced by the yeast strain and by the cell status, with immobilised cells of UFLA CA11 and CAT-1 fermenting faster (4 days and 8 days, respectively) than UFLA CA11 and CAT-1 free cells (10 days and 12 days, respectively). Ethanol content (g/L) was slightly higher when the fermentation was conducted with free cells (94.63 and 94.94 for UFLA CA11 and CAT-1, respectively) than with immobilised cells (86.82 and 87.21 for UFLA CA11 and CAT-1, respectively). The beverage from CAT-1 free cells showed the highest concentration of higher alcohols (82,086.12 ??/L), whereas the lowest concentration (37,812.17 ??/L) was found in the beverage from immobilised UFLA CA11. The ethyl ester concentration ranged from 1511.42 ??/L (CAT-1 free cells) to 2836.34 ??/L (UFLA CA11 free cells). According to the sensory evaluation, the fruit wine acceptability was greater than 70% for colour, flavour and taste for all cagaita beverages.     

Anti-oxidant,anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts from black raspberry fruits and wine

The purpose of the study was to determine polyphenols, anthocyanins and ascorbic acid in the extracts of black raspberry fruits and wine, along with their anti-oxidant, anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory activities. Black raspberry fruits without or with seeds crushed were blended in 60% ethanol (FE and FES, respectively) or in water (FW and FWS, respectively). Black raspberry wine without or with seeds crushed (W and WS, respectively) were prepared. Polyphenol content was the highest in the FES (8.25 mg/g fruit). Generally the ethanol extracts with seeds crushed showed higher anti-oxidant activities with the lowest DPPH IC₅₀ (130 μg/ml (freeze-dried extract/reaction solution)) for the FES and the lowest ABTS IC₅₀ (198 μg/ml) for the WS. Cell viabilities were reduced by 13–70% when treated with 100 μg/ml (freeze-dried extract/medium) for HT-29 cells and 1000 μg/ml for LNCaP cells. The FES most actively suppressed nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells (p < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities treated with the extracts were higher than the control (p < 0.05).     

Acaricidal activity of fennel seed oils and their main components against Tyrophagus putrescentiae, a stored-food mite

The acaricidal activities of components derived from Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) seed oils against Tyrophagus putrescentiae adults were examined using direct contact application and compared with those of the compounds benzyl benzoate, dibutyl phthalate and N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide. The biologically active constituent of the F. vulgare seeds was characterized as (+)-carvone by spectroscopic analyses. On the basis of LD₅₀ values, the compound most toxic to T. putrescentiae was naphthalene (4.28 μg/cm²) followed by dihydrocarvone (4.32 μg/cm²), (+)-carvone (4.62 μg/cm²), (−)-carvone (5.23 μg/cm²), eugenol (10.62 μg/cm²), benzyl benzoate (11.24 μg/cm²), thymol (11.42 μg/cm²), dibutyl phthalate (13.11 μg/cm²), N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (13.53 μg/cm²), methyl eugenol (39.52 μg/cm²), myrcene (39.88 μg/cm²) and acetyleugenol (72.24 μg/cm²). These results indicate that acaricidal activity of the F. vulgare seed oil could be caused by carvone and naphthalene of which the former is likely to be more important because it is 74.7 times more abundant than naphthalene. Carvone and naphthalene merit further study as potential stored-food mite control agents or as lead compounds.     

Effect of dilution rate and nutrients addition on the fermentative capability and synthesis of aromatic compounds of two indigenous strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in continuous cultures fed with Agave tequilana juice

Knowledge of physiological behavior of indigenous tequila yeast used in fermentation process is still limited. Yeasts have significant impact on the productivity fermentation process as well as the sensorial characteristics of the alcoholic beverage. For these reasons a better knowledge of the physiological and metabolic features of these yeasts is required. The effects of dilution rate, nitrogen and phosphorus source addition and micro-aeration on growth, fermentation and synthesis of volatile compounds of two native Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, cultured in continuous fed with Agave tequilana juice were studied. For S1 and S2 strains, maximal concentrations of biomass, ethanol, consumed sugars, alcohols and esters were obtained at 0.04 h⁻¹. Those concentrations quickly decreased as D increased. For S. cerevisiae S1 cultures (at D = 0.08 h⁻¹) supplemented with ammonium phosphate (AP) from 1 to 4 g/L, concentrations of residual sugars decreased from 29.42 to 17.60 g/L and ethanol increased from 29.63 to 40.08 g/L, respectively. The S1 culture supplemented with AP was then micro-aerated from 0 to 0.02 vvm, improving all the kinetics parameters: biomass, ethanol and glycerol concentrations increased from 5.66, 40.08 and 3.11 g/L to 8.04, 45.91 and 4.88 g/L; residual sugars decreased from 17.67 g/L to 4.48 g/L; and rates of productions of biomass and ethanol, and consumption of sugars increased from 0.45, 3.21 and 7.33 g/L·h to 0.64, 3.67 and 8.38 g/L·h, respectively. Concentrations of volatile compounds were also influenced by the micro-aeration rate. Ester and alcohol concentrations were higher, in none aerated and in aerated cultures respectively.     

Flavonoids isolated from Syzygium aqueum leaf extract as potential antihyperglycaemic agents

Syzygium aqueum is a medicinal plant which is grown in tropical regions. In this study, the ethanolic extracts of S. aqueum leaf were investigated for its antihyperglycaemic activity. Our investigation revealed its effectiveness in inhibiting the carbohydrate hydrolysing enzymes, α-glucosidase (EC₅₀ = 11 μg/ml) and α-amylase (EC₅₀ = 8 μg/ml), at significant level than the commercial drug acarbose (EC₅₀ = 28 μg/ml, α-glucosidase; EC₅₀ = 12 μg/ml, α-amylase). In addition, the ethanolic leaf extracts were able to inhibit the key enzyme in the polyol pathway, aldose reductase (EC₅₀ = 0.03 μg/ml) and prevent the AGEs formation by 89%. Six flavonoid compounds, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (1), myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside (2), europetin-3-O-rhamnoside (3), phloretin (4), myrigalone-G (5) and myrigalone-B (6), were isolated from the ethanolic leaf extracts. Compounds (2) and (3) showed high inhibitory activities, with EC₅₀ values of 1.1 μM and 1.9 μM against α-glucosidase and EC₅₀ values of 1.9 μM and 2.3 μM against α-amylase, respectively. These findings provide a strong rationale to establish S. aqueum’s capability as an antihyperglycaemic agent.     

In vitro activity of the essential oils of Origanum vulgare, Satureja montana and their main constituents in peroxynitrite-induced oxidative processes

The essential oil obtained from aerial parts of Satureja montana L. and Origanum vulgare L. (Labiatae) along with four of its main components, p-cymene, carvacrol, thymol and γ-terpinene were tested in models of in vitro peroxynitrite-induced formation of both 3-nitrotyrosine and malondialdehyde, two biomarkers of the oxidative stress of recognised pathological and toxicological significance. The essential oils showed a significant activity, thus decreasing 3-nitrotyrosine formation (IC₅₀ values of 43.9 μg/ml for S. montana and 19.2 μg/ml for O. vulgare), and also inhibited the peroxynitrite induced malondialdehyde formation (IC₅₀ values of 27.2 μg/ml and 17.0 μg/ml respectively). Thymol and carvacrol inhibited 3-nitrotyrosine formation (IC₅₀ values of 81.3 μM and 106.3 μM; ascorbic acid IC₅₀ = 400 μM) and reduced malondialdehyde formation (IC₅₀ values of 43.9 μM and 70.1 μM respectively; trolox IC₅₀ = 240 μM). On the contrary, p-cymene and γ-terpinene were completely inactive in both assays under the concentration of 300 μg/ml. These results support, in particular for origanum, the nutraceutical value of these spices and the potential of thymol and carvacrol in preventing the formation of toxic products by the action of reactive nitrogen species.     

Fumigant toxicity of essential oil from Artemisia sieberi Besser against three stored-product insects

Artemisia sieberi is a widely distributed plant in Iran. Because some species of Artemisia are insecticidal, experiments were conducted to investigate fumigant toxicity of the essential oil. Dry ground leaves were subjected to hydrodistillation using a modified Clevenger-type apparatus and the resulting oil contained camphor (54.7%), camphene (11.7%), 1,8-cineol (9.9%), β-thujone (5.6%) and α- pinene (2.5%).The mortality of 7 days old adults of Callosobruchus maculatus, Sitophilus oryzae, and Tribolium castaneum increased with concentration from 37 to 926 μL/L and with exposure time from 3 to 24 h. A concentration of 37 μL/L and an exposure time of 24 h was sufficient to obtain 100% kill of the insects. Callosobruchus maculatus was significantly more susceptible than S. oryzae and T. castaneum; a second more detailed bioassay gave estimates for the LC₅₀ of C. maculatus as 1.45 μL/L, S. oryzae 3.86 μL/L and T. castaneum 16.76 μL/L. These results suggested that A. sieberi oil may have potential as a control agent against C. maculatus, S. oryzae and T. castaneum.     

In vitro and in vivo antifungal activities of the essential oils of various plants against tomato grey mould disease agent Botrytis cinerea

The aim of this study was to find an alternative to synthetic fungicides currently used in the control of devastating fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of grey mould disease of tomato. Antifungal activities of essential oils obtained from aerial parts of aromatic plants, which belong to the Lamiacea family such as origanum (Origanum syriacum L. var. bevanii), lavender (Lavandula stoechas L. var. stoechas) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), were investigated against B. cinerea. Contact and volatile phase effects of different concentrations of the essential oils were found to inhibit the growth of B. cinerea in a dose-dependent manner. Volatile phase effects of essential oils were consistently found to be more effective on fungal growth than contact phase effect. A volatile vapour of origanum oil at 0.2 μg/ml air was found to completely inhibit the growth of B. cinerea. Complete growth inhibition of pathogen by essential oil of lavender and rosemary was, however, observed at 1.6 μg/ml air concentrations. For the determination of the contact phase effects of the tested essential oils, origanum oil at 12.8 μg/ml was found to inhibit the growth of B. cinerea completely. Essential oils of rosemary and lavender were inhibitory at relatively higher concentrations (25.6 μg/ml). Spore germination and germ tube elongation were also inhibited by the essential oils tested. Light and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observations revealed that the essential oils cause considerable morphological degenerations of the fungal hyphae such as cytoplasmic coagulation, vacuolations, hyphal shrivelling and protoplast leakage and loss of conidiation. In vivo assays with the origanum essential oil, being the most efficient essential oil, under greenhouse conditions using susceptible tomato plants resulted in good protection against grey mould severity especially as a curative treatment. This study has demonstrated that the essential oils are potential and promising antifungal agents which could be used as biofungicide in the protection of tomato against B. cinerea.     

Taqman real-time PCR for the detection and enumeration of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in wine

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the main yeast species responsible for wine fermentation; however, its presence during maturing or barrel-ageing can sometimes result in a reduction in the quality of wine by refermentation. In this work, we developed a quantitative real-time PCR (QPCR) for the rapid detection and quantification of S. cerevisiae in wine. The primers and the hydrolysis probe (TaqMan^®) were designed from the sequence of a DNA fragment present only in S. cerevisiae and absent in other wine yeasts obtained from an RAPD-PCR analysis. The QPCR developed was highly reproducible, allowing the specific detection and quantification of this yeast in artificially contaminated wines, with a detection limit of 78 CFU/mL. Furthermore, the usefulness of the QPCR developed was evaluated through the quantification of the yeast in wine samples obtained from vineyards, confirming the quantitative capacity of the method. The methodology developed was specific, fast and a sensitive tool for the detection and enumeration of S. cerevisiae cells in wine.     

A Weibull model to describe antimicrobial kinetics of oregano and lemongrass essential oils against Salmonella Enteritidis in ground beef during refrigerated storage

The antimicrobial effect of oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) and lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf.) essential oils (EOs) against Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis in in vitro experiments, and inoculated in ground bovine meat during refrigerated storage (4 ± 2 °C) for 6 days was evaluated. The Weibull model was tested to fit survival/inactivation bacterial curves (estimating of p and δ parameters). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value for both EOs on S. Enteritidis was 3.90 μl/ml. The EO concentrations applied in the ground beef were 3.90, 7.80 and 15.60 μl/g, based on MIC levels and possible activity reduction by food constituents. Both evaluated EOs in all tested levels, showed antimicrobial effects, with microbial populations reducing (p ≤ 0.05) along time storage. Evaluating fit-quality parameters (RSS and RSE) Weibull models are able to describe the inactivation curves of EOs against S. Enteritidis. The application of EOs in processed meats can be used to control pathogens during refrigerated shelf-life.     

Characteristics of some traditional Vietnamese starch-based rice wine fermentation starters (men)

In the Mekong Delta region of South-Vietnam, wine from purple glutinous rice is particularly interesting because of its sherry-like taste and flavour and its attractive brown-red colour. It is manufactured at home or by small cottage industries, using traditional solid-state starters (Men). With the objective of improving the knowledge about the functionality of traditional Men, this study deals with the properties and composition of 29 samples of Vietnamese commercial rice wine starters. We selected 6 rice wine starters for their superior ability to liquefy cooked rice, high ethanol accumulation, and production of attractive flavour and colour in the resulting wine. Ethanol contents reached 12 g/100 ml, a sweet alcoholic fragrance was noticed and the wine colour varied from red to lightly brown. Total mould, yeast and bacteria counts in Men were 3.4-6.0, 5.8-7.2 and 2.6-6.2 log CFU/g of dry weight sample, respectively. A total of 119 microbial strains, comprising 53 moulds, 51 yeasts and 15 bacteria, was isolated. Mould isolates with excellent functionality were identified as Amylomyces rouxii, Amylomyces aff. rouxii (an atypical form of A. rouxii), Rhizopus oligosporus and Rhizopus oryzae. Yeast isolates with excellent fermentation properties were all identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae; other, less functional isolates were identified as Candida glabrata and Pichia anomala.     

Carotenoid composition of Algerian date varieties (Phoenix dactylifera) at different edible maturation stages

The aim of this study was to investigate the carotenoid composition and the provitamin A value of three palm date (Phoenix dactylifera) varieties (Deglet-Nour, Hamraya and Tantebouchte) from Algeria at three different ripening stages (khallal, rutab and tamr). Chromatographic analysis showed that the major carotenoid pigment present in dates is lutein followed by β-carotene, with an evident carotenoid disappearance during ripening from the khallal to the tamr stage. The different date fruits present a total carotenoid content in the range of 61.7–167, 32.6–672, and 37.3–773 μg/100 g fresh weight (FW) in Deglet-nour, Tantebouchte and Hamraya varieties, respectively. The rutab stage of Tantebouchte showed the lowest carotenoid content of 32.6 μg/100 g FW, whereas the khallal stage of Hamraya presented the highest value, 773 μg/100 g FW, followed by Tantebouchte with 672 μg/100 g FW. Provitamin A value (due exclusively to β-carotene) increased from 0.4 to 0.5 RE/100 g in Deglet-Nour fruits, but decreased from 11.7 to 1.6 RE/100 g and from 3.9 to 0.5 RE/100 g in Tantebouchte and Hamraya fruits, respectively, during ripening. The lowest value was found at the tamr stage of the Deglet-Nour variety (0.5 RE/100 g) whereas the highest provitamin A content was found at the khallal stage of the Tantebouchte variety (11.7 RE/100 g).     

Antioxidant activity and proline content of leaf extracts from Dorystoechas hastata

Dorystoechas hastata (D. hastata) is a monotypic plant endemic to Antalya province of Turkey. D. hastata leaves are used to make a tea locally called “çalba tea”. Diethyl ether (E), ethanol (A), and water (W) were used for the sequential preparation of extracts from dried D. hastata leaves. A hot water extract (S) was also prepared by directly boiling the powdered plant in water. The antioxidant activities of the extracts were tested by ferric thiocyanate (FTC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging methods. E extract exhibited the greatest antioxidant activity with FTC method, whereas S extract exhibited the lowest IC₅₀ value (6.17 ± 0.53 μg/ml) for DPPH radical scavenging activity. Total phenolic contents of the extracts were estimated by Folin–Ciocalteu method and S extract was found to contain the highest amount (554.17 ± 20.83 mg GAE/g extract) of phenolics. Extract A contained highest flavonoid content and there was a inverse linear correlation (R² = 0.926) between IC₅₀ values for DPPH radical scavenging activity and flavonoid contents of all extracts. Reducing power of extracts increased in a concentration-dependent manner. S extract was found to possess higher reducing power than equivalent amount of ascorbic acid at 20 and 25 μg/ml concentrations. Linear correlation between reducing power and concentration of E, A, and W extracts (R² > 0.95) was observed. A, W, and S extracts contained relatively high levels of proline. The results presented suggest that D. hastata may provide a natural source of antioxidants and proline.     

Screening of the antioxidant potentials of six Salvia species from Turkey

This study was designed to examine the in vitro antioxidant activities of the methanol extracts of six Salvia species [Salvia caespitosa Montbret & Aucher ex Bentham (ENDEMIC), Salvia hypargeia Fisch. & Mey. (ENDEMIC), Salvia euphratica subsp. euphratica Montbret & Aucher ex Bentham (ENDEMIC), Salvia sclarea L., Salvia candidissima subsp. candidissima Montbret & Aucher ex Bentham and Salvia aethiopis L.] from Turkey. The extracts were screened for their possible antioxidant activities by two complementary test systems, namely DPPH free radical-scavenging and β-carotene/linoleic acid systems. Non-polar subfractions of the methanol extracts of Salvia species studied did not show any antioxidant activity in both test systems. In the first case, the most active plant was S. euphratica subsp. euphratica, an endemic species, with an IC₅₀ value of 20.7 ± 1.22 μg/ml, followed by S. sclarea (IC₅₀ = 23.4 ± 0.97 μg/ml) among the polar subfractions. In the β-carotene/linoleic acid test system, polar extract of S. hypargeia was superior to the polar extracts of other Salvia species studied (69.2% ± 1.90%). This activity was followed by S. sclarea with 63.5% ± 4.24% inhibition rate. The inhibition rate of the synthetic antioxidant, buthylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), was also determined to be 96%. Since the polar extracts of Salvia species dealt with here exhibited excellent antioxidant activities when compared to BHT, it seems possible to keep perishable fat-containing food longer by direct addition of an extract of sage.     

Effect of antioxidants and competing mycoflora on Fusarium verticillioides and F. proliferatum populations and fumonisin production on maize grain

This study was carried out to determine the temporal effect of the antioxidants butylated hydroxyanisol (BHA) and propyl paraben (PP) at doses of 500 and 1000 μg/g on the growth of Fusarium verticillioides and F. proliferatum inoculated on natural maize grain in the presence of the competing mycoflora and fumonisin production at 0.98 and 0.95 water activity (a_w) over a 28-day storage period. The reduction in the log colony forming units (CFU) of Penicillium, Aspergillus and Fusarium populations was 10-100 fold depending on dose of BHA or PP, a_w and time. However, the populations of all three groups were higher at 0.98 a_w than 0.95 a_w. BHA at 500 μg/g and 0.95 a_w reduced the fumonisin content by 82% after 7-14 days incubation, but at the end of the experimental period the reduction was only 32%. A higher reduction in the level of fumonisin produced (77%) was achieved with BHA at 1000 μg/g after 28 days. PP at 500 and 1000 μg/g decreased fumonisin production throughout the incubation period in the drier treatment, but at 0.98 a_w control of toxin production was only achieved after 7-14 days. The reduction in the fumonisin levels could be due to the combined effect of antioxidants, and the competing mycoflora, mainly Aspergillus and Penicillium species.     

Antioxidant properties and bioactive components of Norton (Vitis aestivalis) and Cabernet Franc (Vitis vinifera) wine grapes

Three wine grapes, Norton (Vitis aestivalis), Cabernet Franc clone1, and Cabernet Franc clone313 (Vitis vinifera), collected from a Virginia vineyard were evaluated and compared for their antioxidant properties and phenolic profile. All grape extracts exerted remarkable antioxidant activities. Their oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values were not significantly different from one another, ranging from 22.9 to 26.7 μmol TE/g of fresh weight. The Cabernet Franc clone1 had the strongest 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals scavenging activity (8.8 μmol TE/g) compared to the Norton or Cabernet Franc clone313 grape extracts (7.9 μmol TE/g and 5.4 μmol TE/g, respectively). The Norton grape contained significantly higher total phenolic, anthocyanin, and flavonoid content than the Cabernet Franc grapes (p < 0.05). The hydroxybenzoic acids, in particular gallic acid, were the major phenolic acids in all the grape extracts. The Norton grape variety was found to be rich in malvidin-diglucoside and malvidin-glucoside, while the malvidin-diglucoside was negligible in the Cabernet Franc grapes. The results suggest a remarkable impact of grape genotype on its antioxidant properties and phenolic composition in Virginia-grown wine grapes.     

Anti-inflammatory effects of compounds from Kaempferia parviflora and Boesenbergia pandurata

Kaempferia parviflora and Boesenbergia pandurata are perennial herbs in the Zingiberaceae family. The rhizomes of these two plants have been used as food ingredients and in Thai traditional medicine for treatment of several inflammatory-related diseases, such as gout, allergy, apthous ulcer and peptic ulcer. The compounds isolated from the rhizomes of K. parviflora and B. pandurata were, therefore, examined for their inhibitory activities against nitric oxide (NO) production. For K. parviflora, compound 5 (5-hydroxy-3,7,3′,4′-tetramethoxyflavone) exhibited the highest activity against the NO inhibitory effect, with an IC₅₀ value of 16.1 μM, followed by 4 (IC₅₀ = 24.5 μM) and 3 (IC₅₀ = 30.6 μM). Regarding the NO inhibitory activity of B. pandurata, compound 2 (panduratin A) displayed the most potent effect with an IC₅₀ value of 5.3 μM, followed by 3 (hydroxypanduratin A, IC₅₀ = 13.3 μM) and 7 (cardamonin, IC₅₀ = 24.7 μM), respectively. The 5-hydroxy-3,7,3′,4′-tetramethoxyflavone (5), panduratin A (2) and hydroxypanduratin A (3), were also tested on prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) production. 5-Hydroxy-3,7,3′,4′-tetramethoxyflavone (5) exhibited a potent inhibitory effect on PGE₂ production (IC₅₀ = 16.3 μM), but a mild effect on TNF-α (IC₅₀ > 100 μM). Panduratin A and hydroxypanduratin A showed strong activity against PGE₂ with IC₅₀ values of 10.5 and 12.3 μM, respectively, and a moderate effect on TNF-α (IC₅₀ = 60.3 and 57.3 μM, respectively). This study indicated that compound 5 (5-hydroxy-3,7,3′,4′-tetramethoxyflavone) is responsible for anti-inflammatory activity of K. parviflora, while 2 (panduratin A) and 3 (hydroxypanduratin A), the prenylated chalcones, are responsible for that of B. pandurata.     

Composition,antimicrobial, antiradical and spasmolytic activity of Ferula heuffelii Griseb. ex Heuffel (Apiaceae) essential oil

The essential oil from underground parts of Ferula heuffelii from N.E. Serbia, was analysed using GC and GC–MS. The main compounds of the essential oil were elemicin (35.4%) and myristicin (20.6%). The essential oil exhibited the best antimicrobial activity against two strains of Candida albicans (MIC = 7.0 and 13.7 μg/ml), as well as against Micrococcus luteus (MIC = 13.7 μg/ml), Staphylococcus epidermidis (MIC = 17.6 μg/ml), Bacillus subtilis (MIC = 21.1 μg/ml) and Micrococcus flavus (MIC = 28.2 μg/ml). In the DPPH radical scavenging assay, essential oil showed substantial activity with SC₅₀ = 22.43 μl/ml. The essential oil was also tested for antispasmodic activity. It inhibited spontaneous contraction of isolated rat ileum dose-dependently, and at the concentration of 86.64 μg/ml exhibited 50% of the maximum effect of atropine. After incubation with 75.00 μg/ml of essential oil, acetylcholine did not induce contractions of ileum, and at 250.00 μg/ml, the essential oil almost completely abolished the spasmodic effect of potassium chloride (80 mM).     

Biogenic amine production by Oenococcus oeni during malolactic fermentation of wines obtained using different strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Twenty-six wild Oenococcus oeni strains were investigated for their ability to form biogenic amines during malolactic fermentation in synthetic medium and in wine. Eight strains produced histamine and tyramine in screening broth at concentrations of 2.6-5.6 mg/L and 1.2-5.3 mg/L, respectively. Based on their ability to form biogenic amines, five strains were selected to inoculate three wines obtained by the fermentation of three different Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains (A, B, and C). All bacterial strains could perform malolactic fermentation for short periods in wine C, whereas only one strain performed complete malolactic fermentation in wines A and B. Two O. oeni strains (261 and 351) produced histamine and tyramine in wine C. Time-course analysis of these compounds showed that for both strains, histamine and tyramine production began at day 10 and finished on day 25, after the end of malolactic fermentation. These results indicate that the ability of O. oeni to produce histamine and tyramine is dependent on the bacterial strain and on the wine composition, which in turn depends on the yeast strain used for fermentation, and on the length of bacteria-yeast contact time after the completion of malolactic fermentation.