title: Antimicrobial effects of Turkish propolis, pollen, and laurel on spoilage and pathogenic food-related microorganisms.
abstract: The antimicrobial activities of propolis extract, pollen extract, and essential oil of laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) at concentrations from 0.02% to 2.5% (vol/vol) were investigated on bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Yersinia enterocolitica, Enterococcus faecalis, and Listeria monocytogenes), yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida rugosa), and molds (Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus oryzae). Pollen has no antimicrobial effects on the bacteria and fungi tested in the concentrations used. Propolis showed a bactericidal effect at 0.02% on B. cereus and B. subtilis, at 1.0% on S. aureus and E. faecalis, and at 0.2% on L. monocytogenes. The minimum inhibitory concentration of propolis for fungi was 2.5%. Propolis and laurel were ineffective against E. coli and S. typhimurium at the concentrations tested. The results showed that the antimicrobial activity were concentration dependent. Propolis and essential oil of laurel may be used as biopreservative agents in food processing and preservation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Gaziantep, Gaziantep, Turkey. erkmen@gantep.edu.tr
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erkmen
authors.forename: Mehmet Musa
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ozcan
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005519:Food Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects*; D027442:Laurus; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011058:Pollen; D011429:Propolis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017365:Spices; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D009822:Oils, Volatile; D011429:Propolis