Dados do Trabalho

Título

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF GERANIUM ESSENTIAL OIL AGAINST CAMPYLOBACTER JEJUNI

Introdução

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the main bacteria causing bacterial gastroenteritis, primarily transmitted through raw or undercooked chicken meat. In broiler chickens, C. jejuni can often be isolated as it resides in the animals' intestines and can contaminate the meat during slaughter. Reducing contamination of chicken meat by C. jejuni is essential to control the spread of the pathogen. Furthermore, the increasing bacterial resistance to antimicrobials has highlighted the need for research into obtaining alternative substances, among which essential oils stand out. These compounds are extracted from plants and have emerged as a promising solution in this context. Geranium essential oil (GEO) (Pelargonium graveolens) shows promise due to its efficient antibacterial action attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds such as citronellol and geraniol. The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of GEO against C. jejuni (ATCC 33291 and isolate 21, which exhibits a multidrug-resistant profile) aiming at its potential application as a coating for chicken meats.

Material e Métodos

The antimicrobial activity of GEO against C. jejuni was assessed using disk diffusion tests on agar, volatile compound activity, and broth dilution to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC).

Resultados e Discussão

An effective action of GEO in reducing the proliferation of C. jejuni was observed, with significant inhibition zones (55 mm and 50 mm for ATCC 33291 and isolate 21, respectively). The volatile compounds present in GEO also exhibited strong antimicrobial activity, with inhibition zones of 70 mm for both ATCC 33291 and isolate 21. It is noteworthy that GEO exhibited an MIC of 1.71 mg/mL for ATCC 33291 and 0.86 mg/mL for isolate 21, and an MBC of 1.71 mg/mL for ATCC 33291 and 1.71 mg/mL for isolate 21 against the studied strains.

Conclusão

Thus, it is demonstrated that GEO has antimicrobial potential and can be incorporated into polymeric materials for the development of active packaging that can be applied as coatings for chicken meat to inhibit and/or minimize contamination by C. jejuni.