title: Antimicrobial activity of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) against food pathogens.
abstract: Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) has been studied for its important biological activities mainly attributed to phenolic compounds. This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of methanolic and ethanolic extracts of yerba mate against food pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Enteritidis and Escherichia coli through minimum inhibitory (MIC) and bactericidal (MBC) concentrations, in addition to the determination of chemical composition by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and phenolic content. The most effective extract had its activity evaluated under different pH conditions by growth curve analysis. All microorganisms except E. coli were inhibited. The ethanolic extract showed the lowest MIC/MBC (0.78/0.78 mg/ml), the highest phenolic content (193.9 g.GAE/kg) and the presence of chlorogenic acid derivatives, especially 3-O-caffeoylquinic and caffeic acid. This extract was able to inhibit microbial growth at pH 7 and 8.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Agroindústria, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brasil. gui.pmartin@gmail.com
authors.forename: José G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Prado Martin
authors.forename: Ernani
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.forename: Severino M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: de Alencar
authors.forename: Eduardo M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: da Glória
authors.forename: Cristina B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Corrêa
authors.forename: Ingridy S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Ribeiro Cabral
mesh_terms: D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D030019:Ilex paraguariensis; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012477:Salmonella enteritidis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts