The Efficacy of Satureja khuzistanica
 Essential Oil Treatment in Reducing Escherichia coli
 O157:H7 Load on Alfalfa Seeds Prior to Sprouting

Growth inhibition of four strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (H1730, F4546, 932, and E0019) and Listeria monocytogenes (Scott A, 101, 108, and 310) by essential oil components (carvacrol and eugenol) solubilized in nonionic surfactant micelles (Surfynol 465 and 485W) was investigated. Concentrations of encapsulated essential oil components ranged from 0.02 to 1.25% depending on compound, surfactant type, and surfactant concentration (0.5 to 5%). Eugenol encapsulated in Surfynol 485W micelles was most efficient in inhibiting growth of the pathogens; 1% Surfynol 485W and 0.15% eugenol was sufficient to inhibit growth of all strains of E. coli O157:H7 and three of four strains of L. monocytogenes (Scott A, 310, and 108). The fourth strain, L. monocytogenes 101, was inhibited by 2.5% Surfynol and 0.225% eugenol. One percent Surfynol 485W in combination with 0.025% carvacrol was effective in inhibiting three of four strains of E. coli O157:H7. Strain H1730 was the most resistant strain, requiring 0.3% carvacrol and 5% surfactant for complete inhibition. Growth inhibition of L. monocytogenes by combinations of carvacrol and Surfynol 465 ranged between 0.15 and 0.35% and 1 and 3.75%, respectively. Generally, the antimicrobial activity of Surfynol 465 in combination with eugenol was higher than that for the combination with carvacrol. The potent activity was attributed to increased solubility of essential oil components in the aqueous phase due to the presence of surfactants and improved interactions of antimicrobials with microorganisms.

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Effect of Gamma Radiation and Oregano Essential Oil on Murein and ATP Concentration of Escherichia coli O157:H7

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-68.12.2571 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 68 (12) ◽

pp. 2571-2579 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

STÉPHANE CAILLET ◽

FRANÇOIS SHARECK ◽

MONIQUE LACROIX

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Essential Oil ◽

Gamma Radiation ◽

Cell Damage ◽

Wall Structure ◽

High Dose ◽

Escherichia Coli O157 ◽

Oregano Essential Oil ◽

Intracellular Atp ◽

Oregano Oil

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of gamma radiation alone or in combination with oregano essential oil on the murein composition of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and on the intracellular and extracellular concentrations of ATP. The bacterial strain was treated with three radiation doses: 0.4 kGy to induce cell damage, 1.1 kGy to obtain a viable but nonculturable state, and 1.3 kGy to cause cell death. Oregano essential oil was used at 0.006 and 0.025% (wt/vol), which is the MIC. All treatments had a significant effect (P ≤ 0.05) on the murein composition, although some muropeptides did not seem to be affected by the treatment. Each treatment had a different effect on the relative percentage and number of muropeptides. There was a significant correlation (P ≤ 0.05) between the decrease in intracellular ATP and the increase in extracellular ATP following treatment of the cells with oregano oil. The reduction of intracellular ATP was even more important when oregano oil was combined with irradiation, but irradiation alone at a high dose (≤1.1 kGy) significantly decreased (P ≤ 0.05) the internal ATP without affecting the external ATP. Transmission electron microscopic examination revealed that oregano oil and irradiation have an effect on cell wall structure.

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Chemical and Irradiation Treatments for Killing Escherichia coli O157:H7 on Alfalfa, Radish, and Mung Bean Seeds

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-66.5.767 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 66 (5) ◽

pp. 767-774 ◽

Cited By ~ 63

Author(s):

M. L. BARI ◽

E. NAZUKA ◽

Y. SABINA ◽

S. TODORIKI ◽

K. ISSHIKI

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Heat Treatment ◽

Mung Bean ◽

Escherichia Coli O157 ◽

E Coli ◽

Chemical Treatments ◽

Dry Heat ◽

Pathogen Populations ◽

Dry Heat Treatment ◽

Alfalfa Seeds

In this study, the effectiveness of dry-heat treatment in combination with chemical treatments (electrolyzed oxidizing [EO] water, califresh-S, 200 ppm of active chlorinated water) with and without sonication in eliminating Escherichia coli O157:H7 on laboratory-inoculated alfalfa, radish, and mung bean seeds was compared with that of dry-heat treatment in combination with irradiation treatment. The treatment of mung bean seeds with EO water in combination with sonication followed by a rinse with sterile distilled water resulted in reductions of approximately 4.0 log10 CFU of E. coli O157:H7 per g, whereas reductions of ca. 1.52 and 2.64 log10 CFU/g were obtained for radish and alfalfa seeds. The maximum reduction (3.70 log10 CFU/g) for mung bean seeds was achieved by treatment with califresh-S and chlorinated water (200 ppm) in combination with sonication and a rinse. The combination of dry heat, hot EO water treatment, and sonication was able to eliminate pathogen populations on mung bean seeds but was unable to eliminate the pathogen on radish and alfalfa seeds. Other chemical treatments used were effective in greatly reducing pathogen populations on radish and alfalfa seeds without compromising the quality of the sprouts, but these treatments did not result in the elimination of pathogens from radish and alfalfa seeds. Moreover, a combination of dry-heat and irradiation treatments was effective in eliminating E. coli O157:H7 on laboratory-inoculated alfalfa, radish, and mung bean seeds. An irradiation dose of 2.0 kGy in combination with dry heat eliminated E. coli O157:H7 completely from alfalfa and mung bean seeds, whereas a 2.5-kGy dose of irradiation was required to eliminate the pathogen completely from radish seeds. Dry heat in combination with irradiation doses of up to 2.0 kGy did not unacceptably decrease the germination percentage for alfalfa seeds or the length of alfalfa sprouts but did decrease the lengths of radish and mung bean sprouts.

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Efficacy of Chemical Treatments in Eliminating Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on Scarified and Polished Alfalfa Seeds

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-64.10.1489 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 64 (10) ◽

pp. 1489-1495 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

SARAH L. HOLLIDAY ◽

ALAN J. SCOUTEN ◽

LARRY R. BEUCHAT

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Chemical Treatment ◽

Organic Material ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Escherichia Coli O157 ◽

E Coli ◽

Mechanical Abrasion ◽

Chemical Treatments ◽

The Impact ◽

Alfalfa Seeds

Alfalfa seeds are sometimes subjected to a scarification treatment to enhance water uptake, which results in more rapid and uniform germination during sprout production. It has been hypothesized that this mechanical abrasion treatment diminishes the efficacy of chemical treatments used to kill or remove pathogenic bacteria from seeds. A study was done to compare the effectiveness of chlorine (20,000 ppm), H2O2 (8%), Ca(OH)2 (1%), Ca(OH)2 (1%) plus Tween 80 (1%), and Ca(OH)2 (1%) plus Span 20 (1%) treatments in killing Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7 inoculated onto control, scarified, and polished alfalfa seeds obtained from two suppliers. The influence of the presence of organic material in the inoculum carrier on the efficacy of sanitizers was investigated. Overall, treatment with 1% Ca(OH)2 was the most effective in reducing populations of the pathogens. Reduction in populations of pathogens on seeds obtained from supplier 1 indicate that chemical treatments are less efficacious in eliminating the pathogens on scarified seeds compared to control seeds. However, the effectiveness of chemical treatment in removing Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 from seeds obtained from supplier 2 was not markedly affected by scarification or polishing. The presence of organic material in the inoculum carrier did not have a marked influence on the efficacy of chemicals in reducing populations of test pathogens. Additional lots of control, scarified, and polished alfalfa seeds of additional varieties need to be tested before conclusions can be drawn concerning the impact of mechanical abrasion on the efficacy of chemical treatment in removing or killing Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7.

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