Antimicrobial activity of essential oils and structurally related synthetic food additives towards Clostridium perfringens.

Abstract

AIMS:

To assess the potential of essential oils and structurally related synthetic food additives in inhibiting the growth of Clostridium perfringens for the control of necrotic enteritis in chickens.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

The antimicrobial activity of essential oils/compounds was measured by determining the inhibition of bacterial growth. Thirty-three of 66 oils/compounds exhibited > or =80% inhibition. Seven with the highest potency were further studied. The oils/compounds had MIC(95) values between 167 and 425 microg ml(-1). Most of them were tolerant to low pH (2.0) and exhibited minor or no inhibition of Lactobacillus isolates from the chicken intestine. When mixed with chicken ileal digesta, the oils/compounds retained their efficacy against C. perfringens, but had little effect on the total number of lactobacilli and anaerobic bacteria in the digesta.

CONCLUSIONS:

Some essential oils/compounds demonstrated good potential in controlling C. perfringens.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY:

This study has identified candidates of essential oils/compounds for in vivo studies for the control of necrotic enteritis in chickens.

• Authors: W Si, X Ni, J Gong, H Yu, R Tsao, Y Han, J R Chambers
• Journal: Journal of applied microbiology (J Appl Microbiol) Vol. 106 Issue 1 Pg. 213-20 (Jan 2009) ISSN: 1365-2672 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19054237 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Food Additives
• Oils, Volatile

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (pharmacology)
• Chickens (microbiology)
• Clostridium Infections (prevention & control, veterinary)
• Clostridium perfringens (drug effects)
• Enterocolitis, Necrotizing (microbiology, veterinary)
• Food Additives (pharmacology)
• Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
• Intestines (microbiology)
• Lactobacillus (drug effects)
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests
• Oils, Volatile (pharmacology)
• Poultry Diseases (microbiology, prevention & control)