Inativação termoquímica de Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus e Salmonella enterica Enteritidis por óleos essenciais / Thermochemical inactivation of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica Enteritidis by essencial oils

O controle do crescimento microbiano tanto na indústria de alimentos quanto em ambientes hospitalares é de extrema importância. Entretanto, observa-se aumento da resistência dos microrganismos aos desinfetantes mais empregados, observando-se a necessidade de estudos com novos antimicrobianos. Assim, o objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana e a curva de morte termoquímica de soluções desinfetantes de óleos essenciais sobre Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus e Salmonella Enteritidis. Foram utilizados os óleos essenciais de Thymus vulgaris (tomilho), Elettaria cardamomum (cardamomo), Eugenia caryophyllus (cravo botão) e Foeniculum vulgare dulce (funcho doce). As concentrações mínimas inibitórias foram determinadas utilizando-se a técnica de diluição em placas. As concentrações testadas foram de (%): 0,00; 0,25; 0,5; 1,0; 2,0; 2,5; 3,0; 3,5; 4,0; 4,5; e 5,0. Escherichia coli foi a única bactéria sensível a todos os óleos em concentrações abaixo de 5%. Cravo da índia não inibiu o crescimento de S. aureus nas concentrações testadas. Somente o óleo essencial de tomilho inibiu o crescimento de Salmonella Enteritidis. Observando-se as curvas de morte termoquímica de S. aureus, nota-se que a solução desinfetante contendo óleo essencial de tomilho foi a mais eficiente, tanto a 25 quanto a 40°C, sendo necessário apenas 10min. de contato para não serem mais detectadas células viáveis. A solução desinfetante contendo 0,25% de óleo essencial de tomilho, tanto a 25 quanto a 40°C, eliminou as células de S. Enteritidis após10min. de contato. Já pra E. coli , os melhores resultados foram obtidos com as soluções desinfetantes contendo óleos essenciais de funcho doce e cravo da índia ...

The control of microbial growth in the food industry and in hospital environments is extremely important. However there is increasing resistance of microorganisms to disinfectants normally applied, which leads to the need for new antimicrobial studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and thermochemical death curve of disinfectant solutions from essential oils on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella Enteritidis. The essential oils of Thymus vulgaris (thyme), Elettaria cardamomum (cardamom), Eugenia caryophyllus (clove bud) and Foeniculum vulgare dulce (sweet fennel) were used. The minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined using dilution technique in Petridish. The concentrations tested were (%): 0.00 , 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 , 2.0, 2.5 , 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 , 4.5, and 5.0. Escherichia coli were the only bacteria sensitive to all oils at concentrations below 5%. Cloves did not inhibit the growth of S. aureus at the concentrations tested. Only the thyme essential oil inhibited the growth of Salmonella Enteritidis. Observing the thermochemical death curves of S. aureus one can see that the disinfectant solution containing thyme essential oil was the most effective, both at 25 and 40°C, requiring only 10min contact to no longer detecte viable cells. The disinfectant solution containing 0.25% thyme essential oil, both at 25 and 40°C removed S. Enteritidis cells after 10min. contact. For E. coli the best results were obtained with disinfectant solutions containing fennel and sweet clove essential oils at 25 and 40°C and thyme at 40°C. All treatments, except that containing cardamom essential oil, reduce the number of viable bacteria cells tested in at least 5log cycles, being considered suitable for use as disinfectants.

Histological and ultrastructural studies on the toxic effect of pan masala and its amelioration by Elettaria cardamomum / 中国天然药物

AIM@#To investigate the histological and ultrastructural changes observed in pan masala intoxicated mammalian testes under the effect of cardamom.@*METHODS@#Male Swiss mice were given pan masala orally at a dose of 2% of the feed and cardamom at a dose of 0.2% of the feed. They were divided into three groups, control (Group I), pan masala-treated (Group II), and a combination of pan masala and cardamom-treated group (Group III). Histologically, the testes of Group II mice displayed degeneration of tubular epithelium, disruption of spermatogenesis, and a marked reduction in germ cells.@*RESULTS@#When cardamom was given, damage was less with fewer distorted cells and also improvement with normal tubules and spermatid differentiation in Group III. Ultrastructurally, pan masala-treated testes showed cytoplasmic vacuolation, shrinkage and pyknotic nuclei of spermatogonia, and abnormal acrosomal granules.@*CONCLUSION@#When cardamom was given, the amelioration process was more evident showing a comparable morphology with control.

Blood pressure lowering, fibrinolysis enhancing and antioxidant activities of Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum).

Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton. (Small cardamom) fruit powder was evaluated for its antihypertensive potential and its effect on some of the cardiovascular risk factors in individuals with stage 1 hypertension. Twenty, newly diagnosed individuals with primary hypertension of stage 1 were administered 3 g of cardamom powder in two divided doses for 12 weeks. Blood pressure was recorded initially and at 4 weeks interval for 3 months. Blood samples were also collected initially and at 4 weeks interval for estimation of lipid profile, fibrinogen and fibrinolysis. Total antioxidant status, however, was assessed initially and at the end of the study. Administration of 3 g cardamom powder significantly (p<0.001) decreased systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure and significantly (p<0.05) increased fibrinolytic activity at the end of 12th week. Total antioxidant status was also significantly (p<0.05) increased by 90% at the end of 3 months. However, fibrinogen and lipid levels were not significantly altered. All study subjects experienced a feeling of well being without any side-effects. Thus, the present study demonstrates that small cardamom effectively reduces blood pressure, enhances fibrinolysis and improves antioxidant status, without significantly altering blood lipids and fibrinogen levels in stage 1 hypertensive individuals.