Eucalyptus essential oil as a natural food preservative: in vivo and in vitro antiyeast potential

Biomed Res Int. 2014:2014:969143. doi: 10.1155/2014/969143. Epub 2014 Aug 7.

Abstract

In this study, the application of eucalyptus essential oil/vapour as beverages preservative is reported. The chemical composition of eucalyptus oil was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and solid phase microextraction GC-MS (SPME/GC-MS) analyses. GC-MS revealed that the major constituents were 1,8-cineole (80.5%), limonene (6.5%), α-pinene (5%), and γ-terpinene (2.9%) while SPME/GC-MS showed a relative reduction of 1,8-cineole (63.9%) and an increase of limonene (13.8%), α-pinene (8.87%), and γ-terpinene (3.98%). Antimicrobial potential of essential oil was initially determined in vitro against 8 different food spoilage yeasts by disc diffusion, disc volatilization, and microdilution method. The activity of eucalyptus vapours was significantly higher than the eucalyptus oil. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) varied from 0.56 to 4.50 mg/mL and from 1.13 to 9 mg/mL, respectively. Subsequently, the combined efficacy of essential oil and thermal treatment were used to evaluate the preservation of a mixed fruit juice in a time-dependent manner. These results suggest eucalyptus oil as a potent inhibitor of food spoilage yeasts not only in vitro but also in a real food system. Currently, this is the first report that uses eucalyptus essential oil for fruit juice preservation against food spoiling yeast.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / chemistry
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Eucalyptus / chemistry*
  • Food Microbiology*
  • Food Preservatives / chemistry*
  • Food Preservatives / pharmacology*
  • Oils, Volatile / chemistry*
  • Oils, Volatile / pharmacology*
  • Yeasts / drug effects*
  • Yeasts / physiology

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Food Preservatives
  • Oils, Volatile