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Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of citral
Author(s) -
Onawunmi Grace O.
Publication year - 1989
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 - 10.1111/j.1472-765x.1989.tb00301.x
Subject(s) - citral , antimicrobial , preservative , escherichia coli , bacteria , food science , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry , essential oil , genetics , gene
Citral showed appreciable antimicrobial activity against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria as well as fungi. Media composition and inoculum size had no observable effect on activity but alkaline pH increased citral activity. The growth rates of Escherichia coli cultures were reduced at concentrations of citral ≥0·01% v/v while concentrations ≥0·03% v/v produced rapid reduction in viable cells followed by limited regrowth. In a non‐growth medium, 0·08% and 0·1% v/v showed rapid bactericidal effects. Citral may therefore be of preservative use in addition to its other uses in the food, soap and cosmetic industries.