Effects of essential oils and oleoresins of plants on ethanol production,respiration and sporulation of yeasts

Ethanol production, respiration, and sporulation of yeasts as effected by essential oils and oleoresins of allspice, cinnamon, clove, garlic, onion, oregano, savory, and thyme were investigated. Essential oils of allspice, cinnamon, and clove had little or no effect on ethanol production by Sacchraromyces cerevisiae. Oils of onion, oregano, savory, and thyme delayed and/or reduced the production of ethanol. Overall, essential oils effectively suppressed ethanol production by Hansenula anomala. At the highest concentrations tested (500 μg/ml), only cinnamon, clove, garlic and thyme oleoresins substantially delayed and/or reduced ethanol production by S. cerevisiae. Most of the essential oils (100 μm/ml) impaired the respiratory activity of S. cerevisiae as evidenced by a reduction in CO₂ production. Thyme oleoresin was the strongest inhibitor. Allspice and garlic oils impaired sporulation by H. anomala. All oils delayed sporulation of Lodderomyces elongisporus).     

Effects of Essential Oils from Plants on Growth of Food Spoilage Yeasts

Thirty-two essential oils from plants were screened for inhibitory effects on 13 food-spoilage and industrial yeasts. Of these, essential oils of allspice, cinnamon, clove, garlic, onion, oregano, savory, and thyme were most inhibitory. Oils were subsequently tested for their effects on biomass production and pseudomycelium formation of eight genera of yeasts. Garlic oil was a potent inhibitor of yeast growth at concentrations as low as 25 ppm. The oils of onion, oregano and thyme were also strongly inhibitory. Essential oils (100 ppm) had no effect on pseudomycelium production by Candida lipolytica. However, all eight essential oils delayed pseudomycelium formation by Hansenula anomala, whereas six oils stimulated pseudomycelium production by Lodderomyces elongisporus. Cinnamon and clove oils were clearly stimulatory to pseudomycelium production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae.     

The analysis of essential oils and extracts (oleoresins) from seasonings ‐ A critical review

A critical review of the analytical methods employed for the determination of the relevant components of seasonings is presented. Where the available methods were inadequate, new ones have been devised. Particular emphasis has been placed on those methods of analysis that provide a rapid and sufficiently accurate appraisal of seasoning extracts and essential oils from seasonings under routine control laboratory conditions. At the same time, the margin of error of these methods has been determined. The individual seasoning extracts were assessed according to the following criteria: (1) essential oil — cardamom, laurel leaves, cloves, origanum (marjoram), sage, and thyme; (2) essential oil and nonvolatile lipids — dillseed, coriander, caraway, mace, nutmeg, pimento (allspice), and celery seed; (3) essential oil and/or pungent ingredients — capsicum, ginger, and pepper; (4) essential oil and/or coloring matter — turmeric (curcuma) and paprika; (5) essential oil and other components — garlic, onion, and cinnamon.     

Characterization of fish protein films incorporated with essential oils of clove,garlic and origanum: Physical,antioxidant and antibacterial properties

Consumers are demanding high quality foods using environmental-friendly packaging systems and natural preservatives, like edible/biodegradable films or coatings with bioactive properties. In this context, films prepared with Cape hake by-products proteins were combined with three essential oils (garlic, clove, and origanum) and characterized in terms of physical, mechanical, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. Control films, without essential oils, were homogeneous, transparent, slightly yellow, and mechanically resistant. The incorporation of garlic, clove, and origanum essential oils in this film significantly decreased thickness, water solubility, breaking force and elongation, whereas increased the free radical scavenging activity of films. Particularly, clove films showed lower water vapour permeability than control films, and the highest antibacterial activity (against Shewanella putrefaciens). Garlic films were the most yellowish and had the highest antioxidant activity. Finally, origanum films were rather similar to the control, particularly in colour, transparency and reducing power. In conclusion, proteins recovered from Cape hake by-products combined with essential oils have adequate properties with applicability in new preservation food packaging systems.     

Bactericidal activities of plant essential oils and some of their isolated constituents against Campylobacter jejuni,Escherichia coli,Listeria monocytogenes,and Salmonella enterica

An improved method of sample preparation was used in a microplate assay to evaluate the bactericidal activity levels of 96 essential oils and 23 oil compounds against Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella enterica obtained from food and clinical sources. Bactericidal activity (BA50) was defined as the percentage of the sample in the assay mixture that resulted in a 50% decrease in CFU relative to a buffer control. Twenty-seven oils and 12 compounds were active against all four species of bacteria. The oils that were most active against C. jejuni (with BA50 values ranging from 0.003 to 0.009) were marigold, ginger root, jasmine, patchouli, gardenia, cedarwood, carrot seed, celery seed, mugwort, spikenard, and orange bitter oils; those that were most active against E. coli (with BA50 values ranging from 0.046 to 0.14) were oregano, thyme, cinnamon, palmarosa, bay leaf, clove bud, lemon grass, and allspice oils; those that were most active against L monocytogenes (with BA50 values ranging from 0.057 to 0.092) were gardenia, cedarwood, bay leaf, clove bud, oregano, cinnamon, allspice, thyme, and patchouli oils; and those that were most active against S. enterica (with BA50 values ranging from 0.045 to 0.14) were thyme, oregano, cinnamon, clove bud, allspice, bay leaf, palmarosa, and marjoram oils. The oil compounds that were most active against C. jejuni (with BA50 values ranging from 0.003 to 0.034) were cinnamaldehyde, estragole, carvacrol, benzaldehyde, citral, thymol, eugenol, perillaldehyde, carvone R, and geranyl acetate; those that were most active against E. coli (with BA50 values ranging from 0.057 to 0.28) were carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde, thymol, eugenol, salicylaldehyde, geraniol, isoeugenol, citral, perillaldehyde, and estragole; those that were most active against L monocytogenes (with BA50 values ranging from 0.019 to 0.43) were cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, thymol, carvacrol, citral, geraniol, perillaldehyde, carvone S, estragole, and salicylaldehyde; and those that were most active against S. enterica (with BA50 values ranging from 0.034 to 0.21) were thymol, cinnamaldehyde, carvacrol, eugenol, salicylaldehyde, geraniol, isoeugenol, terpineol, perillaldehyde, and estragole. The possible significance of these results with regard to food microbiology is discussed.     

The analysis of essential oils and extracts (oleoresins) from seasonings--a critical review.

A critical review of the analytical methods employed for the determination of the relevant components of seasonings is presented. Where the available methods were inadequate, new ones have been devised. Particular emphasis has been placed on those methods of analysis that provide a rapid and sufficiently accurate appraisal of seasoning extracts and essential oils from seasonings under routine control laboratory conditions. At the same time, the margin of error of these methods has been determined. The individual seasoning extracts were assessed according to the following criteria: (1) essential oil--cardamom, laurel leaves, cloves, origanum (marjoram), sage, and thyme; (2) essential oil and nonvolatile lipids--dillseed, coriander, caraway, mace, nutmeg, pimento (allspice), and celery seed; (3) essential oil and/or pungent ingredients--capsicum, ginger, and pepper; (4) essential oil and/or coloring matter--turmeric (curcuma) and paprika; (5) essential oil and other components--garlic, onion, and cinnamon.     

植物复合精油对5种稻谷霉变优势菌株抑菌作用研究

为了研究天然植物精油(百里香、丁香、肉桂)对霉变稻谷的抑菌效果,以5种稻谷霉变优势菌株为受试菌,以霉菌抑菌圈直径大小和最低抑菌浓度（MIC）为指标,通过混料设计方法建立复合精油抑菌模型,结合方差分析得到抑菌效果最佳的植物精油配比。研究结果表明,单一精油抑菌活性对亮白曲霉（A. candidus）,杂色曲霉（A. versicolor）和聚多曲霉（A. sydowii）为肉桂精油>丁香精油>百里香精油;对稻黑孢霉（N. oryzae）为肉桂精油=丁香精油>百里精香油;对布罗克青霉菌（P. brocae）为丁香精油=百里香精油<肉桂精油。当肉桂精油:丁香精油:百里香精油的体积比为55.2%︰26.9%︰17.9%时,3种植物精油对5种菌株抑制效果最佳,复合抑制值大于90.9%。     

Antifungal activity of five different essential oils in vapour phase for the control of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Lasiodiplodia theobromae in vitro and on mango

Mango fruit has high commercial value; however, major postharvest losses are encountered throughout the supply chain due to postharvest diseases. These results lead to the search for natural fungicide for postharvest diseases control. The antifungal effects of five essential oils (thyme, clove, cinnamon, anise and vitex) were assessed by disc volatilisation method. Thyme oil vapours at 5 μL per Petriplate, and clove and cinnamon oil at 8 μL per Petriplate showed 100% growth inhibition of mango pathogens in vitro. GC/MS analysis of essential oil showed thymol (23.88), o‐cymol (23.88) and terpinolene (23.88) as the major constituents of thyme oil. Clove and cinnamon oils contain 3‐allyl‐2‐methoxyphenol (37.42%) and benzofuran 3‐methyl (17.97%), respectively. Thyme oil as a fumigant at 66.7 μL L^?1 showed a significant (P < 0.05) inhibition on postharvest pathogens of mango fruits stored at 25 °C for 6 days. Results of our study suggest the possibility of using thyme oil as an alternate natural fungicide to manage postharvest diseases in mango.     

Inhibitory activity of essential oils of garlic and onion against bacteria and yeasts

The essential oils of garlic and onion and their constituent sulfides with three or more sulfur atoms were potent inhibitors of yeast growth. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of garlic oil, onion oil, diallyl trisulfide, diallyl tetrasulfide, and dimethyl trisulfide for all the yeasts tested ranged between 2 and 45 ppm. The oils and their constituent sulfides, however, were only very weakly antibacterial, showing minimum inhibitory concentrations of greater than 300 ppm for most of the bacteria tested. The antiyeast activity of garlic oil and onion oil was storage stable and was not influenced by pH. Film formation on soy sauce by Zygosaccharomyces rouxii SS1 was completely prevented for 30 days by the addition of 30 and 40 ppm of garlic oil and onion oil, respectively.     

DPPH free-radical scavenging ability, total phenolic content, and chemical composition analysis of forty-five kinds of essential oils

Forty-five kinds of commonly used essential oils were employed to investigate the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging ability and total phenolic content of major chemical compositions. The free-radical scavenging ability and total phenolic content of cinnamon leaf and clove bud essential oils are the best among these essential oils. One-half milliliter of cinnamon leaf and clove bud essential oils (10 mg mL EtOH) are shown to be 96.74% and 96.12% of the DPPH (2.5ml, 1.52 × 10^-4 M) free-radical scavenging ability, respectively. Their EC50 (effective concentrations) are 53 and 36 (μg mL^-1). One milligram per milliliter of cinnamon leaf, clove bud, and thyme red essential oils were shown to be 420, 480, and 270 (mg g^-1 of GAE) of total phenolic content, respectively. Eugenol in cinnamon leaf and clove bud essential oils (82.87% and 82.32%, respectively) were analyzed by GC-MS. It is clear that the amounts of the phenol compounds in essential oils and the DPPH free-radical scavenging ability are in direct proportion.     

Antimicrobial efficacies of essential oils/nanoparticles incorporated polylactide films against L. monocytogenes and S. typhimurium on contaminated cheese

Polylactide based films were formulated by incorporating polyethylene glycol, selected nanopowders (zinc oxide, silver-copper), and essential oils (cinnamon, garlic, and clove) by solvent casting method. Films were tested against three foodborne pathogens (one gram-positive and two gram-negative) for their antibacterial activity. The effectiveness of selected cinnamon oil-based film was ascertained by performing a challenge test with cheese as a food model. In vitro antibacterial efficacies of nanopowders and essential oils were also determined by the decimal reduction concentrations and the minimum bactericidal concentrations for those foodborne pathogens. It was observed that nanopowders exhibited considerably poorer decimal reduction concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentration values in comparison to the essential oils. Silver-copper alloy nanopowders exhibited lower decimal reduction concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentrations values than ZnO against tested pathogens whereas essential oils showed distinct antimicrobial effectiveness against all those pathogens with in vitro decimal reduction concentration values of 87–157 and 77–220 µg/mL for cinnamon and clove oils, respectively. Among the various formulations, it was observed that only essential oils (especially cinnamon and clove) incorporated films exhibited a significant antimicrobial activity against the selected microorganisms. These results indicate that the poor antibacterial activity of the nanopowders and the hydrophobicity of polylactide could be responsible for the ineffectiveness of nanopowders in polylactide based films. Furthermore, the challenge test indicated the polylactide/polyethylene glycol/cinnamon oil film was appropriate to inhibit the growth of L. monocytogenes and S. typhimurium on cheese up to 11 days at refrigerated storage.     

Antibacterial properties of plant essential oils

Fifty plant essential oils were examined for their antibacterial properties against 25 genera of bacteria. Four concentrations of each oil were tested using an agar diffusion technique. The ten most inhibitory oils were thyme, cinnamon, bay, clove, almond (bitter), lovage, pimento, marjoram, angelica and nutmeg. The most comprehensively inhibitory extracts were angelica (against 25 genera), bay (24), cinnamon (23), clove (23), thyme (23), almond (bitter) (22), marjoram (22), pimento (22), geranium (21) and lovage (20).     

Inhibitory effect of cinnamon, clove, lemongrass, oregano and palmarose essential oils on growth and fumonisin B1 production by Fusarium proliferatum in maize grain

The effect of cinnamon, clove, oregano, palmarose and lemongrass oils on growth and FB1 production by three different isolates of F. proliferatum in irradiated maize grain at 0.995 and 0.950 aw and at 20 and 30 degrees C was evaluated. The five essential oils inhibited growth of F. proliferatum isolates at 0.995 aw at both temperatures, while at 0.950 aw only cinnamon, clove and oregano oils were effective in inhibiting growth of F. proliferatum at 20 degrees C and none of them at 30 degrees C. Cinnamon, oregano and palmarose oils had significant inhibitory effect on FB1 production by the three strains of F. proliferatum at 0.995 aw and both temperatures, while clove and lemongrass oils had only significant inhibitory effect at 30 degrees C. No differences were found using 500 or 1000 microg essential oil g(-1). At 0.950 aw, none of the essential oils had any significant effect on FB1 production. The results suggest that mainly cinnamon and oregano oils could be effective in controlling growth and FB1 production by F. proliferatum in maize under preharvest conditions.     

四种蔬菜固体保鲜剂对黄瓜的保鲜效果研究

研究蔬菜固体保鲜剂的保鲜效果。采用丁香、花椒、大蒜、生姜4 种天然香辛料精油,通过微胶囊技术分别制成挥发性保鲜剂,让其挥发性释放于黄瓜表面,于常温(25℃± 5℃)条件下贮藏30d,定期测定黄瓜的腐烂率、失重率、呼吸强度、总糖和叶绿素含量并观察其变化规律。结果表明：4 种天然香辛料精油制成的保鲜剂对黄瓜都有显著的保鲜效果,其中用丁香精油制成的保鲜剂保鲜效果最好,花椒次之,大蒜保鲜效果最差。     

ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITIES OF THYME, CLOVE AND OREGANO ESSENTIAL OILS

The antifungal potential of essential oils of oregano (Origanum vulgare), thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and clove (Syzygium aromaticum) was determined. To establish this antifungal potential, two molds related to food spoilage, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus, were selected. The agar dilution method was employed for the determination of antifungal activities. The three essential oils analyzed presented inhibitory effects on both molds tested. Oregano essential oil showed the highest inhibition of mold growth, followed by clove and thyme. Aspergillus flavus was more sensitive to thyme essential oil than A. niger. Clove essential oil was a stronger inhibitor against A. niger than against A. flavus.     

Antimicrobial activity of clove and cinnamon essential oils against Listeria monocytogenes in pasteurized milk

The antimicrobial activity of essential oils (EOs) of cinnamon bark, cinnamon leaf, and clove against Listeria monocytogenes Scott A were studied in semiskimmed milk incubated at 7 degrees C for 14 days and at 35 degrees C for 24 h. The MIC was 500 ppm for cinnamon bark EO and 3,000 ppm for the cinnamon leaf and clove EOs. These effective concentrations increased to 1,000 ppm for cinnamon bark EO, 3,500 ppm for clove EO, and 4,000 ppm for cinnamon leaf EO when the semiskimmed milk was incubated at 35 degrees C for 24 h. Partial inhibitory concentrations and partial bactericidal concentrations were obtained for all the assayed EOs. The MBC was 3,000 ppm for the cinnamon bark EO, 10,500 ppm for clove EO, and 11,000 ppm for cinnamon leaf EO. The incubation temperature did not affect the MBC of the EOs but slightly increased the MIC at 35 degrees C. The increased activity at the lower temperature could be attributed to the increased membrane fluidity and to the membrane-perturbing action of EOs. The influence of the fat content of milk on the antimicrobial activity of EOs was tested in whole and skimmed milk. In milk samples with higher fat content, the antimicrobial activity of the EOs was reduced. These results indicate the possibility of using these three EOs in milk beverages as natural antimicrobials, especially because milk beverages flavored with cinnamon and clove are consumed worldwide and have been increasing in popularity in recent years.     

Antibacterial activities of naturally occurring compounds against antibiotic-resistant Bacillus cereus vegetative cells and spores, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus

After demonstrating the lack of effectiveness of standard antibiotics against the acquired antibiotic resistance of Bacillus cereus (NCTC 10989), Escherichia coli (NCTC 1186), and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 12715), we showed that the following natural substances were antibacterial against these resistant pathogens: cinnamon oil, oregano oil, thyme oil, carvacrol, (S)-perillaldehyde, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (beta-resorcylic acid), and 3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine (dopamine). Exposure of the three pathogens to a dilution series of the test compounds showed that oregano oil was the most active substance. The oils and pure compounds exhibited exceptional activity against B. cereus vegetative cells, with oregano oil being active at nanogram per milliliter levels. In contrast, activities against B. cereus spores were very low. Activities of the test compounds were in the following approximate order: oregano oil > thyme oil approximately carvacrol > cinnamon oil > perillaldehyde > dopamine > beta-resorcylic acid. The order of susceptibilities of the pathogens to inactivation was as follows: B. cereus (vegetative) > S. aureus approximately E. coli > B. cereus (spores). Some of the test substances may be effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria in foods and feeds.     

Effects of Essential Oil Vapour Treatment on the Postharvest Disease Control and Different Defence Responses in Two Mango (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Mangifera indica</Emphasis> L.) Cultivars

The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of essential oils (thyme, clove and cinnamon) in vapour phase against the major fungal diseases of mango in vitro and in vivo. Thyme oil vapour (5 μL/Petri plate) completely inhibited the mycelial growth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Lasiodiplodia theobromae under in vitro condition. Thyme oil vapour at 66.7 μL L^?1 significantly reduced artificially inoculated C. gloeosporioides and L. theobromae in mangoes for 4 days. GC/MS analysis revealed thymol, eugenol and benzofuran, 3-methyl as the dominant compounds in thyme, clove and cinnamon oils, respectively. The activities of defence and antioxidant enzymes including peroxidase, chitinase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, β-1,3-glucanase, catalase and superoxide dismutase were enhanced by thyme oil (66.7 μL L^?1) treatment and also help to maintain the phenolic content. Hence, postharvest thyme oil vapour treatment may prove to be an alternative means of controlling disease in mangoes.     

Effects of extracts of spices on rumen methanogenesis,enzyme activities and fermentation of feeds in vitro

BACKGROUND: An experiment was conducted to study the effects of boiling water, methanol and ethanol extracts (0, 0.25 and 0.50 mL) of seeds of Foeniculum vulgare (fennel), flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum (clove), bulbs of Allium sativum (garlic), bulbs of Allium cepa (onion) and roots of Zingiber officinalis (ginger) on rumen methanogenesis, fibrolytic enzyme activities and fermentation characteristics in vitro. RESULTS: Ethanol and methanol extracts of fennel, clove and garlic at 0.50 mL and clove at 0.25 mL inhibited (P < 0.05) methane production. Carboxymethylcellulase activity was reduced (P < 0.05) by ethanol and methanol extracts (0.50 mL) of fennel and clove (0.25 and 0.50 mL). The extracts of clove reduced (0.25 and 0.50 mL) xylanase and acetylesterase activities, and the fennel extract (0.50 mL) reduced (P < 0.05) xylanase activity. However, the extracts of garlic (0.50 mL) increased (P < 0.05) acetylesterase activity. Concentrations of volatile fatty acids were reduced (P < 0.05) by the extracts of garlic and onion. The extracts of garlic caused a decrease (P < 0.05) in acetate:propionate ratio (A:P) at 0.50 mL, whereas A:P was increased (P < 0.05) by the inclusion of 0.50 mL extracts of clove. Methanol and ethanol extracts of clove decreased (P < 0.05) in vitro organic matter degradability. Extracts (0.50 mL) of clove decreased (P < 0.05) the numbers of total protozoa, small entodiniomorphs and holotrichs, whereas extracts of onion, ginger and garlic enhanced (P < 0.05) protozoal numbers (both entodiniomorphs and holotrichs). CONCLUSION: Ethanol and methanol extracts of fennel and garlic have potential to inhibit rumen methanogenesis without adversely affecting rumen fermentation. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Inhibition of aflatoxin formation by some spices

The effects of black pepper, cinnamon, peppermint, cumin, ginger and clove on growth and aflatoxin formation of Aspergillus flavus were studied in rice powdercorn steep (RC) medium. The effects of the first five spices were judged to be inhibition of aflatoxin formation rather than of mycelial growth. Clove completely inhibited both mycelial growth and aflatoxin formation at a concentration above 0.1%. No aflatoxin was produced when cumin and mint levels of 5% and 10% were used. Black pepper and ginger levels of 10% decreased aflatoxin formation by 100%. Higher concentrations of cinnamon, mint, cumin and ginger stimulated mycelial growth.