Seasonal variations of antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of essential oils extracted from three Citrus limon L. Burm. cultivars.
In order to investigate the seasonal variations of antimicrobial properties and chemical composition of essential oils (EOs), three different cultivars of Citrus limon L. Burm. spp. (Femminello Santa Teresa, Monachello and Femminello Continella) were collected at 6-week intervals, from December 2012 to April 2013, for a total of four harvests. The EOs were extracted from lemon peel by hydro-distillation. The antimicrobial activity, tested by paper disc diffusion method, was evaluated against common food-related pathogenic bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica and Enterobacter spp.). EOs were more effective against Gram-positive than Gram-negative bacteria at each collection time, but a strong strain dependence was evidenced. Monachello EOs showed the highest inhibition power. The chemical characterisation of the EOs performed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry identified from 36 to 42 molecules. The chemical difference registered among samples and seasons may explain the different antimicrobial efficacies recorded.
a Department of Agricultural and Forest Science , Università degli Studi di Palermo , Viale delle Scienze 4, 90128 Palermo , Italy.
L
L
Settanni
W
W
Randazzo
E
E
Palazzolo
M
M
Moschetti
A
A
Aleo
V
V
Guarrasi
C
C
Mammina
P L
PL
San Biagio
F P
FP
Marra
G
G
Moschetti
M A
MA
Germanà
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002957:Citrus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D004754:Enterobacter / Q000187:drug effects; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D007558:Italy; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry*; D019779:Salmonella enterica / Q000187:drug effects; D012621:Seasons; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile