The Antimicrobial Effect of Thymol and Carvacrol in Combination with Organic Acids Against Foodborne Pathogens in Chicken and Beef Meat Fillets

Bioactive compounds and organic acids are applied to a wide range of foods against different types of foodborne pathogens. In the present study, carvacrol and thymol (1000 mg/L) were applied in wine-based marinades, alone or in combination with them and in combination with tartaric acid, malic acid,...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ioanna Mantzourani, Maria Daoutidou, Athanasios Alexopoulos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Microorganisms
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/1/182
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832587826903908352
author Ioanna Mantzourani
Maria Daoutidou
Athanasios Alexopoulos
author_facet Ioanna Mantzourani
Maria Daoutidou
Athanasios Alexopoulos
author_sort Ioanna Mantzourani
collection DOAJ
description Bioactive compounds and organic acids are applied to a wide range of foods against different types of foodborne pathogens. In the present study, carvacrol and thymol (1000 mg/L) were applied in wine-based marinades, alone or in combination with them and in combination with tartaric acid, malic acid, ascorbic acid, citric acid, and acetic acid (in concentration 0.1% <i>w</i>/<i>v</i>), in chicken and beef fillets and their antimicrobial activity, antioxidant capacity, and pH were estimated during refrigerated storage. Likewise, their antimicrobial activity was recorded against <i>Enterobacteriaceae</i>, total mesophilic bacteria, yeasts/molds, and lactic acid bacteria. The outcome demonstrated that both meats kept under similar storage conditions (4 °C/9 days) exhibited lower microbial growth, particularly with <i>Enterobacteriaceae,</i> when treated with wine-based carvacrol—thymol marinades and may extend their shelf-life. This antimicrobial action was more pronounced in the beef samples. The total phenolic content (TPC) and the antioxidant activity of the applied marinades were determined using the Folin−Ciocalteau method and ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activity methods, respectively. The results revealed that marinades with thymol and/or carvacrol in combination with acetic or ascorbic acid had greater TPC and antioxidant activity. The pH values of the respective marinades applied to both chicken and beef fillets exhibited an upturn during storage. Consequently, these marinades, even at low concentrations, could be used as natural preservatives in meat products.
format Article
id doaj-art-0561ea08a9f4446db722ddcebd8eb8cc
institution Kabale University
issn 2076-2607
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Microorganisms
spelling doaj-art-0561ea08a9f4446db722ddcebd8eb8cc2025-01-24T13:42:57ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-01-0113118210.3390/microorganisms13010182The Antimicrobial Effect of Thymol and Carvacrol in Combination with Organic Acids Against Foodborne Pathogens in Chicken and Beef Meat FilletsIoanna Mantzourani0Maria Daoutidou1Athanasios Alexopoulos2Laboratory of Food Processing, Faculty of Agriculture Development, Democritus University of Thrace, 68200 Orestiada, GreeceLaboratory of Food Processing, Faculty of Agriculture Development, Democritus University of Thrace, 68200 Orestiada, GreeceLaboratory of Microbiology, Biotechnology & Hygiene, Faculty of Agriculture Development, Democritus University of Thrace, 68200 Orestiada, GreeceBioactive compounds and organic acids are applied to a wide range of foods against different types of foodborne pathogens. In the present study, carvacrol and thymol (1000 mg/L) were applied in wine-based marinades, alone or in combination with them and in combination with tartaric acid, malic acid, ascorbic acid, citric acid, and acetic acid (in concentration 0.1% <i>w</i>/<i>v</i>), in chicken and beef fillets and their antimicrobial activity, antioxidant capacity, and pH were estimated during refrigerated storage. Likewise, their antimicrobial activity was recorded against <i>Enterobacteriaceae</i>, total mesophilic bacteria, yeasts/molds, and lactic acid bacteria. The outcome demonstrated that both meats kept under similar storage conditions (4 °C/9 days) exhibited lower microbial growth, particularly with <i>Enterobacteriaceae,</i> when treated with wine-based carvacrol—thymol marinades and may extend their shelf-life. This antimicrobial action was more pronounced in the beef samples. The total phenolic content (TPC) and the antioxidant activity of the applied marinades were determined using the Folin−Ciocalteau method and ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activity methods, respectively. The results revealed that marinades with thymol and/or carvacrol in combination with acetic or ascorbic acid had greater TPC and antioxidant activity. The pH values of the respective marinades applied to both chicken and beef fillets exhibited an upturn during storage. Consequently, these marinades, even at low concentrations, could be used as natural preservatives in meat products.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/1/182carvacrolthymolchicken filletsbeef filletsorganic acidsantimicrobial activity
spellingShingle Ioanna Mantzourani
Maria Daoutidou
Athanasios Alexopoulos
The Antimicrobial Effect of Thymol and Carvacrol in Combination with Organic Acids Against Foodborne Pathogens in Chicken and Beef Meat Fillets
Microorganisms
carvacrol
thymol
chicken fillets
beef fillets
organic acids
antimicrobial activity
title The Antimicrobial Effect of Thymol and Carvacrol in Combination with Organic Acids Against Foodborne Pathogens in Chicken and Beef Meat Fillets
title_full The Antimicrobial Effect of Thymol and Carvacrol in Combination with Organic Acids Against Foodborne Pathogens in Chicken and Beef Meat Fillets
title_fullStr The Antimicrobial Effect of Thymol and Carvacrol in Combination with Organic Acids Against Foodborne Pathogens in Chicken and Beef Meat Fillets
title_full_unstemmed The Antimicrobial Effect of Thymol and Carvacrol in Combination with Organic Acids Against Foodborne Pathogens in Chicken and Beef Meat Fillets
title_short The Antimicrobial Effect of Thymol and Carvacrol in Combination with Organic Acids Against Foodborne Pathogens in Chicken and Beef Meat Fillets
title_sort antimicrobial effect of thymol and carvacrol in combination with organic acids against foodborne pathogens in chicken and beef meat fillets
topic carvacrol
thymol
chicken fillets
beef fillets
organic acids
antimicrobial activity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/1/182
work_keys_str_mv AT ioannamantzourani theantimicrobialeffectofthymolandcarvacrolincombinationwithorganicacidsagainstfoodbornepathogensinchickenandbeefmeatfillets
AT mariadaoutidou theantimicrobialeffectofthymolandcarvacrolincombinationwithorganicacidsagainstfoodbornepathogensinchickenandbeefmeatfillets
AT athanasiosalexopoulos theantimicrobialeffectofthymolandcarvacrolincombinationwithorganicacidsagainstfoodbornepathogensinchickenandbeefmeatfillets
AT ioannamantzourani antimicrobialeffectofthymolandcarvacrolincombinationwithorganicacidsagainstfoodbornepathogensinchickenandbeefmeatfillets
AT mariadaoutidou antimicrobialeffectofthymolandcarvacrolincombinationwithorganicacidsagainstfoodbornepathogensinchickenandbeefmeatfillets
AT athanasiosalexopoulos antimicrobialeffectofthymolandcarvacrolincombinationwithorganicacidsagainstfoodbornepathogensinchickenandbeefmeatfillets