Antibacterial activity and stability of microencapsulated lemon grass essential oil in feeds for broiler chickens

Abstract

SUMMARY The antibacterial effect of microencapsulated lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil on strains of Escherichia coli (ATCC8739), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica (ATCC 6017), and the stability of this oil in feeds for broiler chickens were evaluated. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were determined by the macrodilution method, using the microencapsulated lemon grass essential oil at concentrations of 160 μL mL−1, 80 μL mL−1, 40 μL mL−1, 20 μL mL−1, and 10 μL mL−1. The oil concentration of 80 μL mL−1 presented the best results against the three bacteria evaluated. Samples of 200 g of feed mixed with 120 μL g−1 of the microencapsulated lemon grass essential oil was stored to evaluate the oil stability. Feed without microencapsulated lemon grass essential oil was prepared as control. The oil remained active for seven days, with significant reduction of S. aureus (3.08 CFU), E. coli (3.01 CFU), and S. enterica (3.10 CFU). The microencapsulated lemon grass essential oil at concentration of 80 μL mL−1 had antibacterial effect against the E. coli, S. enterica and S. aureus, and maintained stability of the feed for seven days, even with presence of organic matter, which is source of nutrients for pathogens.

Effect of Microencapsulation on Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Properties of Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) Essential Oil

“…Even though the microencapsulated lemongrass essential oil samples were less effective than the free oil, our results were better than those reported by Assis et al . ( 40 ), who studied the antimicrobial activity of the free and microencapsulated lemongrass essential oil against E. coli . The authors obtained a MIC of 80 µL/mL.…”

Essential oils as valuable feed additive: A narrative review of the state of knowledge about their beneficial health applications and enhancement of production performances in poultry

“…Histopathology scores were greater in broilers given L. rotundifolia oil supplements, but these changes were seen in all groups (Santos et al 2019). EOs of lemon grass and L. rotundifolia are sometimes used as a substitute for increasing performance because of their antimicrobial qualities (Souza et al 2015;Assis et al 2017;Azevedo et al 2017). The goal of this study was to determine if broiler chicks benefited from being fed varied amounts of anise, powdered curcuma seeds, and fenugreek.…”

Advances in Enteropathogen Control Throughout the Meat Chicken Production Chain

“…Feed may also act as a vehicle of Salmonella transmission. Some literature looked at the use of additives to reduce Salmonella in the feed itself: microencapsulated lemongrass essential oil addition can lower Salmonella counts in feed [96]; formaldehyde, essential oils, organic acids and sodium bisulfate can reduce Salmonella in a range of protein-meals used in poultry feed, although the effect varied between meals [97]. A commercial product containing a mixture of organic acids, prebiotics and spice extracts significantly reduced Salmonella counts in the feed relative to an untreated control during a live bird trial [98].…”