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Combined action of nisin and carvacrol on Bacillus cereus and Listeria monocytogenes
Author(s) -
Pol I. E.,
Smid E. J.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2672.1999.00606.x
Subject(s) - nisin , listeria monocytogenes , bacillus cereus , carvacrol , microbiology and biotechnology , preservative , bacteriocin , lysozyme , antimicrobial , food science , biology , listeria , chemistry , bacteria , biochemistry , genetics
Nisin, a small antimicrobial protein, was tested for its bactericidal action against Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus cereus and a typical biphasic reduction of the viable count was observed. The reduction was most fast during the first 10 min of exposure, while the viable count remained stable in the last part of the exposure period. Bacillus cereus was more sensitive towards nisin than L. monocytogenes and the inhibitory effect of nisin was stronger towards cells cultivated and exposed at 8 °C than towards cells cultivated and exposed at 20 °C. Combining nisin with sublethal doses of carvacrol resulted in an increased reduction in the viable count of both organisms, indicating synergy between nisin and carvacrol. Addition of lysozyme as a third preservative factor increased the synergistic effect between nisin and carvone, especially in the last part of the exposure period.