Polyphenol Rich Sugar Cane Extract Inhibits Bacterial Growth

Abstract

Plants that are primarily used as a food source commonly have undervalued biological properties beyond the basic supply of nutrients. One important example of this are the antimicrobial properties of plants. Inclusion of natural and food grade antimicrobial ingredients in recipes to prevent food spoilage and disease transmission, or in cosmetic products to prevent transient and pathogenic bacteria would have world-wide public health implications. A patented natural polyphenol rich sugar cane extract (PRSE), is marketed as a high anti-oxidant and polyphenol ingredient, but its anti-microbial activity has not been reported previously. We determined the anti-bacterial properties of PRSE on common human pathogens relating to a range of diseases including food poisoning, tooth decay, acne and severe skin infections using disc/well diffusion experiments. Our findings indicate that PRSE is an efficient antimicrobial, which could be included at differing dosages to target a range of food borne and environmental pathogens.

Flavonoids and phenolic acids from sugarcane: Distribution in the plant, changes during processing, and potential benefits to industry and health

“…Uses in industrial processes are also possible, as PRSE inhibits enzymatic browning and is an effective food preservative (Ahtesh et al., 2020; Oliveira et al., 2022), two major problems in the food industry. Apigenin has applications in industry, such as an ingredient in sports drinks as an aid to reduce inflammation, as a natural food colorant, and in cosmetics (Chen et al., 2023).…”

Immunomodulatory Properties of Polyphenol-Rich Sugarcane Extract on Human Monocytes

“…Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is known to be a rich source of polyphenols and has been shown to have a number of biological effects. Preparations of the liquid extracts of sugarcane have been shown to be both antimicrobial [20] and antioxidant [21], as well as being able to modulate insulin responses to food intake [22,23]. Sugarcane is an abundant crop, with high value as both a source of nutrition and as an economic vehicle in countries around the world.…”