title: Antifungal effect of eugenol and carvacrol against foodborne pathogens Aspergillus carbonarius and Penicillium roqueforti in improving safety of fresh-cut watermelon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Essential oil components eugenol and carvacrol (ranging between 100 and 200 ppm for carvacrol and between 250 and 750 ppm for eugenol) were tested for antifungal activity against foodborne pathogenic fungal species Aspergillus carbonarius A1102 and Penicillium roqueforti PTFKK29 in in vitro and in situ conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro antifungal activity of eugenol and carvacrol was evaluated by macrobroth method, while watermelon Citrullus lanatus L. Sorento slices were used for antifungal assays in situ.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Selected components, eugenol and carvacrol showed significant inhibitory effect against tested fungi (A. carbonarius A1102 and P. roqueforti PTFKK29) in yeast extract sucrose broth, as well as in in situ conditions. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of eugenol against A. carbonarius A1102 determined by macrobroth method was 2000 ppm, while against P. roqueforti PTFKK29 determined MIC was 1000 ppm. Carvacrol inhibited growth of A. carbonarius A1102 at minimal concentration of 500 ppm, while against P. roqueforti PTFKK29, MIC was 250 ppm. The assays in real food system watermelon slices for eugenol and carvacrol show that the inhibitory effect against both selected fungal species was concentration dependent. Furthermore, our results showed that antifungal effect of carvacrol as well as eugenol applied on watermelon slices in all concentrations was a result of effective synergy between an active antifungal compound and lower incubation temperature (15°C) in inhibition of A. carbonarius A1102.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggests that the use of eugenol and carvacrol is promising natural alternative to the use of food chemical preservatives, in order to improve safety and quality of fresh-cut and ready-to-eat fruits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Public Health Institute of the Osijek-Baranja County, Franje Krežme 1, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Mirela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Šimović
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, Pierottijeva 6, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Frane
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Delaš
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition Research, Food Microbiology Unit, Faculty of Food Technology Osijek, Franje Kuhača 20, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Vedran
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gradvol
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition Research, Food Microbiology Unit, Faculty of Food Technology Osijek, Franje Kuhača 20, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kocevski
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition Research, Food Microbiology Unit, Faculty of Food Technology Osijek, Franje Kuhača 20, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Hrvoje
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pavlović
keywords: Antifungal effect; Aspergillus carbonarius A1102; Penicillium roqueforti PTFKK29; carvacrol; eugenol; watermelon