title: Anti-biofilm forming and anti-quorum sensing activity of selected essential oils and their main components on food-related micro-organisms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of clary sage, juniper, lemon and marjoram essential oils (EOs) and their major components on the formation of bacterial and yeast biofilms and on the inhibition of AHL-mediated quorum sensing (QS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biofilm formation was measured by crystal violet and resazurin staining, and QS inhibition was detected by paper disc diffusion assay. Marjoram EO inhibited Bacillus cereus, Pichia anomala, Pseudomonas putida and mixed-culture biofilm formation of Ps. putida and Escherichia coli and showed the best QS inhibitor effect on Chromobacterium violaceum. For B. cereus, all components showed better antibiofilm capacity than the parent EOs. Lemon EO inhibited E. coli and mixed-culture biofilms, and cinnamon was effective against the mixed forms. Scanning electron microscopy showed the loss of three-dimensional structures of biofilms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EOs and components used seem to be good candidates for prevention of biofilm formation and inhibition of the AHL-mediated QS mechanism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biofilm formation on foods and food industrial equipment is a serious problem causing food spoilage and emergence of foodborne diseases. This article highlights the importance of studying EOs as potential disinfectants and food preservatives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: E-B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Kerekes
authors.forename: É
authors.initials: É
authors.lastname: Deák
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takó
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tserennadmid
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Petkovits
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vágvölgyi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krisch
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000187:drug effects; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D002861:Chromobacterium / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology; D053038:Quorum Sensing / Q000187:drug effects*; D015003:Yeasts / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D005520:Food Preservatives; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils
keywords: biofilm; essential oils; food spoilage; quorum sensing