Comparative Study of the Effects of Citral on the Growth and Injury of Listeria innocua and Listeria monocytogenes Cells

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of citral on growth and on the occurrence of sublethal damage in Listeria innocua Serovar 6a (CECT 910) and Listeria monocytogenes Serovar 4b (CECT 4032) cells that were exposed to citral as a natural antimicrobial agent. Two initial inoculum concentrations were considered in this investigation: 102 and 106 cfu/mL. Citral exhibited antilisterial activity against L. innocua and L. monocytogenes, and the observed effects were dependent on the concentration of citral present in the culture medium (0, 0.150 and 0.250 μL/mL) (p ≤ 0.05). L. innocua had a shorter lag phase than L. monocytogenes, and the two species had nearly identical maximum specific growth rates. These results indicate that L. innocua could be used as surrogate for L. monocytogenes when testing the effects of this antimicrobial. Significant differences in the lag phase and growth rate were observed between the small and large inoculum concentration (p ≤ 0.05). Citral-treated L. innocua and L. monocytogenes that were recovered on selective medium (i.e., TSA-YE-SC) had a shorter lag phase and a higher maximum specific growth rate than cells that were recovered on non-selective medium (i.e., TSA-YE) (p ≤ 0.05). This result suggests that damage occurs at sublethal concentrations of citral.

The Effect of Citrus Essential Oils and Their Constituents on Growth of Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri

“…Several researchers have described the antibacterial activity of citral, linalool, α-terpineol, citronellal, geraniol, and linalyl acetate against different pathogens [ 25 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. The antibacterial effect of citral against E. coli K12, Listeria innocua , and L. monocytogenes have been reported by Belda-Galbis et al [ 32 ] and Silva-Angulo et al [ 33 ].…”

“…However, there are few reports about the antibacterial effects of EOs constituents against phytopathogenic bacteria, especially Xcc . [ 29 ]. The mode of action of citral against bacteria and fungi has been attributed to its reaction with the DNA, outer membrane, plasma membrane, and cell wall damage [ 28 , 29 , 34 , 35 ].…”

Evaluation of the antibacterial activity of bergamot essential oils on different Listeria monocytogenes strains

“…In this regard, essential oils (EOs), aromatic oily liquids obtained from plant materials, are well known for their preservative properties. These substances and their components are used in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, for their antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, nematocidal, anti-carcinogenic and antioxidant properties (Frassinetti et al , 2011; Giarratana et al , 2014, 2015a, 2015b; Rota et al , 2008; Silva-Angulo et al , 2015). Bergamot essential oil (BEO), extracted from the peel of Citrus bergamia Risso , is characterized by several of these properties (Navarra et al , 2016; Pernice et al , 2009; Sicari et al , 2015; Trombetta et al , 2010).…”

“…The major active EOs components are phenols, terpenes, aldehydes and ketones, whose action is performed against the cytoplasmic membrane of target microorganism cells (Hyldgaard et al , 2012). The hydrophobicity is also an important characteristic, which enables EOs to accumulate in cell membranes causing an increase of permeability until cell death (Moreira et al , 2005; Silva-Angulo et al , 2015). For all these reasons EOs employ in food technology is a concrete prospective for undesirable microbial flora control.…”

The Effectivity of Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Citratus) Extract Against Porphyromonas Gingivalis ATCCr 33277t (IN-VITRO)

“…Citral has antibacterial properties because it destroys bacterial cells by increasing bacterial cell permeability activity, alter cell morphology and reduce ATP synthesis because membrane potential is the primary key in order to synthesize ATP. Furthermore, the reduction in internal production of ATP occurs along with the loss of potential bacterial cell membranes, causing the synthesis of enzymes and proteins do not occur continuously to cause bacteria to lysis or die [7].…”