Citrus essential oils (EOs) were screened by disc diffusion assay for their antibacterial activity against 11 serotypes/strains of Salmonella. The three most active oils were selected to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against the same Salmonella. Orange terpenes, single-folded d-limonene, and orange essence terpenes all exhibited inhibitory activity against the Salmonella spp. on the disc diffusion assay.
The most active compound, terpenes from orange essence, produced an MIC that ranged from 0.125% to 0.5% against the 11 Salmonella tested. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis revealed that this orange essence oil was composed principally of d-limonene, 94%, and myrcene at about 3%.
According to the researchers, essential oils from citrus offer the potential for all natural antimicrobials for use in improving the safety of organic or all natural foods.
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