JOURNAL OF FOOD PROTECTION
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2014
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IF 1.797
Hongmei Zhang,Wenyuan Zhou,Wenyan Zhang,Anlin Yang,Yanlan Liu,Yan Jiang,Shaosong Huang,Jianyu Su
Biofilms are significant hazards in the food industry. In this study, we investigated the effects of food additive such as citral, cinnamaldehyde, and tea polyphenols on mixed biofilm formation by foodborne Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella serotype Enteritidis. The adhesion rates of mixed strains in sub-MIC of additives were determined by a microtiter plate assay and bacterial communication signal autoinducer 2 (AI-2) production via a bioluminescence reporter Vibrio harveyi BB170. The structure of mixed biofilm was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. The effect of the disinfectants hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite, and peracetic acid was tested on the mixed biofilm. Our results demonstrated that citral, cinnamaldehyde, and tea polyphenols were able to significantly inhibit mixed biofilm formation, while citral could reduce the synthesis of AI-2. Conversely, we observed a significant increase in AI-2 mediated by cinnamaldehyde. Tea polyphenols at lower concentrations induced AI-2 synthesis; however, AI-2 synthesis was significantly inhibited at higher concentrations (300 μg/ml). Food additives inhibited the adhesion of mixed bacteria on stainless steel chips and increased the sensitivity of the mixed biofilm to disinfectants. In conclusion, citral, cinnamaldehyde, and tea polyphenols had strong inhibitory effects on mixed biofilm formation and also enhanced the effect of disinfectant on mixed biofilm formation. This study provides a scientific basis for the application of natural food additives to control biofilm formation of foodborne bacteria.
研究领域:
食品科学
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微生物学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Fungal Biology
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2022
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IF 2.91
Long Guo,Xiaoxue Mao,Yi Li,Zhiqin Zhou
Citrus is susceptible to Penicillium digitatum ( P. digitatum ) infection in post-harvest storage, resulting in enormous economic losses. This study aimed to investigate the antifungal activity and potential mechanism of the combination of Polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs) and citral (two natural antifungal components derived from citrus) against P. digitatum in vitro and citrus fruit. The results show that PMFs can enhance the antifungal activity of citral nanoemulsion, and PMFs-loaded citral nanoemulsion (PCT) has significant antifungal activity in a concentration-dependent manner. PCT can evidently inhibit spore germination and mycelial growth in vitro , and effectively control the growth of green mold on postharvest citrus fruit. Furthermore, PCT treatment resulted in the alteration of mycelia morphology, accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and membrane lipid peroxidation. These changes can disrupt the normal structure and function of the cell membrane, as evidenced by the reduction of total lipid and ergosterol content in the mycelia and the stronger red fluorescence of the cells emitted after PI staining. Based on the above results, we infer that PCT has a strong inhibitory effect on P. digitatum , and its potential mechanism is related to the destruction of the cell membrane. Therefore, PCT can be considered as a botanical fungicide for citrus preservation.
研究领域:
植物科学
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食品科学
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微生物学
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植物病理学
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PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
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2023
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IF 8.2
Ran Tao,Ning Zhang,Liangliang Zhang,Théogène Habumugisha,Yicun Chen,Yin Lu,Yinjuan Wang,Kui Wang,Yangdong Wang,Jianchun Jiang
Vibrio parahemolyticus is the “Number one killer” of seafood products. Anti-vibrio agents having low cost and high-safety are urgently needed to supplement the application needs. This work attempted to prepare CS-CT-CCa complex with citral (CT), chitosan (CS) and calcium citrate (CCa) as raw material by microwave-assisted high-pressure homogenization. Additionally the coordination structure and morphology of Bridge-CS-CT-Schiff base/OH-CCa were verified. The prepared CS-CT-CCa had a well-dispersed property (the size: 3.55~9.33 μm and the zeta potential: +38.7~+67.5 mV) and an excellent sustained released ability (sustained release up to 180 min). MIC, Glucose assay, MDA assay, biofilm formation inhibition assay, SEM, swimming and swarming motility assay demonstrated that CS-CT-CCa had strong (MIC of 128 μg/mL) and sustained (more than 12 h) inhibitory effects against V. parahaemolyticus. Meanwhile, CS-CT-CCa could increase the membrane permeability of V. parahaemolyticus and inhibit their biofilm-forming ability in a dose-dependent manner. It could be inferred that the antibacterial activities against V. parahaemolyticus caused inhibition of biofilm formation, swimming and swarming motilities. This study provided necessary data for the further design and development of chitosan antibacterial agents, food and feed additives.
研究领域:
食品科学
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微生物学
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材料科学
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PubMed
高影响因子
npj Science of Food
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2025
·Vol. 9
·期 1
·262
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IF 7.8
Mou Linyun,Li Jianlong,Lu Ya
Cherries are highly susceptible to spoilage after harvest due to physiological and biochemical changes. This poses considerable challenges to food safety. Common fungal pathogens responsible for decay include Aspergillus niger and Cladosporium cladosporioides . Citral, an efficient antifungal agent, is thought to combat these pathogens through interactions with phytase (phyA) and N-myristoyltransferase (NMT), a hypothesis explored through molecular docking simulations. Using the Independent Gradient Model based on Hirshfeld partition (IGMH) analysis, it was found that citral encapsulated within α -cyclodextrin metal-organic frameworks ( α -CD-MOFs) forms strong van der Waals forces and exhibits hydrogen bonding. These interactions enhance the stability of the composite material. Incorporating citral-loaded α -CD-MOFs into a matrix of sodium alginate and pullulan resulted in a novel composite film. This film exhibits significantly improved flexibility and tensile properties, which is beneficial for fruit packaging. Meanwhile, the Higuchi and Ritger–Peppas models both indicate that citral is released by diffusion from a uniform polymeric matrix. When applied to cherry preservation, the film exhibited significantly better cherry preservation at 4 °C than at 30 °C ( P < 0.05). Simultaneously, the combination of low temperature with the film’s barrier properties and sustained antimicrobial release synergistically inhibited microbial growth and fruit metabolism, effectively delaying spoilage and supporting its application in both cold-chain and ambient-temperature transport.
研究领域:
食品科学与技术
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采后生理学
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高分子材料
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活性包装
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抗菌递送系统
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分子模拟
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PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD MICROBIOLOGY
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2024
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IF 5
Ce Shi,Xu Liu,Yangyang Chen,Jinming Dai,Changzhu Li,Shifa Felemban,Manal M. Khowdiary,Haiying Cui,Lin Lin
Foodborne diseases caused by Staphylococcus aureus contamination on meat and meat products has gained increasing attention in recent years, while the pathogenicity of S. aureus is mainly attributed to its virulence factors production, which is primarily regulated by quorum sensing (QS) system. Herein, we aimed to uncover the inhibitory effects and mechanisms of citral (CIT) on virulence factors production by S. aureus , and further explore its potential application in pork preservation. Susceptibility test confirmed the antibacterial properties of CIT against S. aureus , the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 0.25 mg/mL. Treatment with sub-MICs of CIT reduced the hemolytic activity by inhibiting the production of α-hemolysin, and staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) production was significantly inhibited by CIT in both culture medium and pork without affecting bacterial growth. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that the differentially expression genes encoding α-hemolysin, SEs, and other virulence factors were down-regulated after treatment with 1/2MIC CIT. Moreover, the genes related to QS including agrA and agrC were also down-regulated, while the global transcriptional regulator sarA was up-regulated. Data here demonstrated that CIT could inhibited S. aureus virulence factors production through disturbing QS systems. In a challenge test, the addition of CIT caused a remarkable inhibition of S. aureus population and delay in lipid oxidation and color change on pork after 15 days incubation at 4 °C. These findings demonstrated that CIT could not only efficiently restrain the production of S. aureus virulence factors by disturbing QS, but also exhibit the potential application on the preservation of meat products.
研究领域:
食品科学
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微生物学
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食品安全
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Food Chemistry-X
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2024
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IF 6.5
Yurong Li,Long Guo,Juanjuan Wei,Yijun Yao,Li Xu,Zhiqin Zhou
Previous studies have shown that polymethoxylated flavonoids-loaded citral emulsion (PCT) can inhibit the growth and reproduction of Penicillium in citrus; however, PCT is difficult to apply to fruit preservation due to its high fluidity and volatility. Therefore, in this study, we combined PCT with chitosan (CS) to investigate the effect of a composite coating on citrus preservation. The results showed that compared to the control group, the CS-PCT group could effectively reduce the decay rate and maintain moisture availability, color difference, and hardness. Moreover, the contents of nonenzymatic antioxidants and volatile substances with antimicrobial activity were better preserved. In addition, the activities of related antioxidant enzymes were greater in the treatment group, and the expression of the corresponding enzyme-encoding genes was upregulated. Consequently, CS-PCT treatment could effectively maintain fruit quality and improve the resistance of citrus fruits during storage; moreover, it can be considered a nontoxic and efficient citrus preservative.
研究领域:
食品科学
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采后技术
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植物生理学
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生物技术
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
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2026
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IF 8.8
Menglong Liu,Haiyan Ding,Xiaoping Fu,Qiaoli Xue,Yongjin Hu
Contamination by Listeria monocytogenes poses significant food safety concerns. Prior research has demonstrated that lauric acid (LA) and citral, compounds present in Litsea cubeba fruit, exhibited synergistic antibacterial effects against L. monocytogenes , although the precise mechanisms remain inadequately understood. Consequently, this study investigated the synergistic mechanism of LA and citral against L. monocytogenes , focusing on biofilm inhibition and gene expression effects. The results indicated that treatment with Synergism LA + citral significantly reduced the intracellular DNA content of L. monocytogenes . The antibacterial combination inhibited biofilm formation by altering bacterial surface hydrophobicity, self-aggregation, and motility, while also disrupting mature biofilms and eradicating internal bacteria. Significant changes were observed in genes associated with multiple pathways related to metabolism and quorum sensing in L. monocytogenes . Additionally, the Synergism LA + citral effectively inhibited L. monocytogenes in pasteurized refrigerated milk while maintaining stable milk brightness and pH. These findings enrich the synergistic antibacterial mechanism of LA and citral and provide promising evidence for their antibacterial application in food products.
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DOI
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高影响因子
MOLECULES
·
2018
·Vol. 23
·期 9
·2108
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IF 3.098
Xi Tang,Ye-Lin Shao,Ya-Jie Tang,Wen-Wen Zhou
The grain contamination byAspergillusspp. has been a serious issue. This study exhibited the excellent antifungal effects of the essential oil compounds (EOCs) geraniol and citral against common grain pathogens (A. flavusandA. ochraceus) in vitro and in situ. The inhibitory mechanisms were also evaluated from the perspective of cell membrane permeability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, andAspergillusspp. growth-related gene expression. Meanwhile, the combined effects of EOCs in the vapor phase and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) were examined to find an alternative preservation method for controllingAspergillusspp. The results indicated that citral exhibited the antifungal activity mainly by downregulating the sporulation- and growth-related genes for both pathogens. Geraniol displayed inhibitory effectiveness againstA. flavuspredominantly by inducing the intracellular ROS accumulation and showed toxicity againstA. ochraceusprincipally by changing cell membrane permeability. Furthermore, the synthetic effects of EOCs and MAP (75% CO2and 25% N2) induced better grain quality than the current commercial fumigant AlP. These findings reveal that EOCs have potential to be a novel grain preservative for further application.Keywords:antifungal activity;geraniol;citral;Aspergillus;relative electric conductivity;reactive oxygen species;gene expression;modified atmosphere packaging
研究领域:
食品科学
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微生物学
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分子生物学
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PubMed
高影响因子
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
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2026
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IF 8.8
Jingxin Ye,Weiqiang Qiu,Weiqing Lan,Jing Xie
Citral exerted its antibacterial activities in a dose-dependent manner in the three groups. • Citral increased intracellular oxidative stress levels of S. putrefaciens and P. fluorescens in mono- and co-culture. • Citral reduced motility and weakened biofilm formation of S. putrefaciens and P. fluorescens in mono- and co-culture. • Citral treatment can prolong the shelf life of large yellow croaker. Shewanella putrefaciens and Pseudomonas fluorescens , as significant specific spoilage organisms in aquatic products, can regulate cell density and a variety of physiological processes through quorum sensing (QS). This research examined the antibacterial mechanism and antivirulence efficacies of citral (CT), as a quorum sensing inhibitor (QSI), against S. putrefaciens and P. fluorescens in mono- and co-culture. Furthermore, the application of CT to large yellow croaker preservation was investigated. Results revealed that CT exerted its antibacterial activities in a dose-dependent manner. CT increased intracellular oxidative stress levels and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, decreased ATP content and peroxidase activity, and promoted the damage of cell membrane, especially in S. putrefaciens group. These two bacteria had a synergistic effect in causing spoilage through biofilm formation and motility. The antivirulence efficacies of CT against the co-culture group were weaker than those of in the mono-culture groups. CT was also found to suppress the expression of key virulence regulators in S. putrefaciens and P. fluorescens virulence, including Autoinducers-2 (AI-2) production in the QS system. Furthermore, CT had the potential capability in the preservation of large yellow croaker. Consequently, these results proved CT could combat bacteria and had antivirulence efficacies against S. putrefaciens and P. fluorescens in mono- and co-culture. Download: Download high-res image (183KB) Download: Download full-size image
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高影响因子
Food Bioscience
·
2022
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IF 5.318
Chen Shen,Wenqing Chen,Changzhu Li,Yong Ye,Haiying Cui,Lin Lin
As a nutritious cold chain food , cheese is susceptible to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. In order to prevent and control Listeria monocytogenes in cheese safely and efficiently, maintain the sensory quality during sale, this paper developed a novel nanofiber membrane with good mechanical strength, hydrophobicity , thermal stability , release performance and bacteriostatic performance as food active packaging. In this study, zein was introduced and electrospun to form a reliable carrier to embed and deliver citral in the cavity of HP-β-CD (Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin). We found that the zein-based nanofiber membranes showed preferable tensile properties and hydrophobicity with 4% (w:v) addition of citral/HP-β-CD inclusion complex. Meanwhile, the thermal stability and release property of citral were significantly improved by embedding in HP-β-CD and loading into zein-base nanofiber membranes. Moreover, after packaged by Zein nanofiber membrane encapsulated with citral/HP-β-CD inclusion complex under the storage conditions of 4 °C and 12 °C, the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in four kinds of cheeses was inhibited to a certain degree. The texture and sensory quality of the four cheeses at the two temperatures and the color quality under the low temperature condition of 4 °C did not change significantly. In summary, Zein nanofiber membranes encapsulated with citral/HP-β-CD inclusion complex has potential application prospects in the field of food active packaging.
研究领域:
食品科学
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包装工程
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微生物学
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高影响因子
MOLECULES
·
2020
·Vol. 25
·期 9
·2044
·
IF 3.267
Xiubing Gao,Can Guo,Ming Li,Rongyu Li,Xiaomao Wu,Anlong Hu,Xianfeng Hu,Feixu Mo,Shuai Wu
The brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), is the most notorious rice insect pest. In order to repel BPH effectively while being environmentally friendly, a new film based on guar gum incorporated with citral (GC film) was formulated. A toxicity bioassay of citral and guar gum at different proportions (ratios of 3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 inw/w) of GC film-forming emulsion to BPH was performed with the rice stem dipping method. Results showed that the most effective ratio of citral to guar gum was 1:1 with the median lethal concentration (LC50) of 4.30 mg/mL, far below the LC50of guar gum (GG)/citral individual (141.51 and 44.38 mg/mL, respectively). The mortality of BPH adults and nymphs in the third instar treated with different dilution multiples of GC film-forming emulsion ranged from 46.67% to 82.22% and from 37.78% to 71.11%, respectively. These indicated that GC film-forming emulsion had a direct toxicity on BPH, and the mixture of citral and GG had synergistic interactions. Subsequently, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the incorporation of guar gum with citral was successful and did not result in the formation of new chemical bonds. The GC film exhibited a darker color and rougher surface topography with larger apertures and deeper gullies (Ra = 1.42 nm, Rq = 2.05 nm, and Rmax = 25.40 nm) compared to the guar gum film (GG film) (Ra = 1.00 nm, Rq = 1.33 nm, and Rmax = 16.40 nm), as determined by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The GC film exhibited a 50.4% lower solubility in water (30.30% vs. 15.00%) and 71.3% oxygen permeability (8.26 × 10−9vs. 2.37 × 10−9cm3/m2·d·Pa) (p <0.05) but did not demonstrate any significant difference in mechanical properties, such as thickness (39.10 vs. 41.70 mm), tensile strength (41.89 vs. 38.30 N/mm2), and elongation at break (1.82% vs. 2.03%) (p <0.05) compared to the GG film. Our findings established a link between physicochemical properties and bioactivity, which can provide useful information on developing and improving GC films and may offer an alternative approach for the control of BPH in the near future.
研究领域:
农业昆虫学
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材料科学
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DOI
高影响因子
Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies
·
2026
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IF 6.9
Tao Li,Lang Guo,Kang Yang,Yong Guo,Xinhui Wang,Jing Li
Photooxidation and microbial contamination are two major factors responsible for postharvest deterioration of fresh fruits, and active packaging offers an effective strategy for shelf-life extension. In this work, multifunctional and eco-friendly nanocomposite films were fabricated from polyvinyl alcohol/gelatin (PVA/GEL) incorporated with branched polyethyleneimine (PEI)-grafted carbon dots (CDs) and citral Pickering emulsions (CIT-PE) stabilized by β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) particles. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis suggested physical interactions between the PVA/GEL matrix and the incorporated active components. The incorporation of CIT-PE and CDs significantly enhanced the UV-shielding, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties of the films. In particular, the PG/E8/C0.8 film exhibited complete UV-blocking ability in the UV region (200–400 nm), strong antibacterial activity against E. coli (18.05 ± 0.20 mm) and S. aureus (55.54 ± 0.87 mm), and high DPPH radical scavenging activity (84.49 ± 3.47%). In cherry tomato preservation experiments, the PG/E8/C0.8 film effectively delayed quality deterioration, maintaining a vivid appearance, lower weight loss (4.24%), and better retention of total soluble solids and titratable acidity after 16 days of storage compared with the control group. Overall, this work provides a feasible strategy for developing multifunctional active packaging materials for postharvest food preservation.
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高影响因子
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）