Preparation and antibacterial activity of p-coumaric acid-β-cyclodextrin complex against Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris in apple juice

To overcome the poor solubility and bioavailability of p -coumaric acid ( p -CA), an inclusion complex ( p -CA- β -CD) of p -CA and β -cyclodextrin ( β -CD) was prepared. FT-IR, XRD, DSC, and SEM were performed to characterize the p -CA- β -CD complex. Additionally, the antibacterial activity of p -CA- β -CD against Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris and the underlying mechanisms were investigated. The results confirmed the successful fabrication of p -CA- β -CD and demonstrated a significant enhancement in p -CA solubility upon complexation with β -CD. p -CA- β -CD effectively inhibited A. acidoterrestris , with an MIC of 1.4 mg/mL, by damaging cell membrane, reducing intracellular pH and ATP, increasing ROS levels, and altering cell morphology. Moreover, 1MIC of p -CA- β -CD caused 2.89 and 2.18 log reductions of A. acidoterrestris during apple juice storage at 4 °C and 25 °C, respectively, without remarkable effect on physicochemical indexes and sensory quality. These findings suggested that p -CA- β -CD could potentially be an emerging and promising natural agent for controlling A. acidoterrestris in juice.