Atomic force microscopy analysis shows surface structure changes in carvacrol-treated bacterial cells
Open accessAbstract
Carvacrol is a major component in some essential oils such as oregano and thyme and its inhibitory effect on the growth of various microorganisms is well documented. However, the active mechanism of carvacrol, as well as that of other essential oil components, has not yet been fully established and has generally not been well investigated. In this study, the antimicrobial activity of carvacrol against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative food-related bacterial strains was preliminarily verified and the effect of carvacrol on their cell envelope was further investigated by atomic force microscopy analysis. The atomic force microscopy images of the cells treated with carvacrol 3.3 mM for 1 h were analyzed by an appropriate software in order to visualize the effect of the treatment and to determine the values of cell surface roughness and some biometric parameters (cell length and width). The results showed that all microorganisms tested were sensitive to carvacrol both in solid and liquid media. Furthermore, images of cells of all strains treated with carvacrol exhibited appreciable modifications, indicating a change in cell surface structure. Finally, both length and diameter of the microorganisms decreased after contact with carvacrol.
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Carvacrol is one of the few components of an essential oil that has a disintegrating effect on the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria.
“Carvacrol is one of the few components of an EO that has a disintegrating effect on the OM of Gram-negative bacteria [31].”
From Effect of essential oils on pathogenic bacteria (2013) · cites this paper as [31]
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References 37 · Cited by 156
- Authors
- La Storia, A., Ercolini, D., Marinello, F., Di Pasqua, R., Villani, F., & Mauriello, G.
- Affiliations
- University of Naples Federico II (IT)
- University of Padua (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Mauriello, Gianluigi
- Venue
- Research in Microbiology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-02
- Volume
- 162
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 164-172
- ISSN
- 0769-2609 (ISSN-L)
- 0923-2508
- OpenAlex
- W1985201798
- Cited by
- 156
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 12.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Research in Microbiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Padua Research Archive (University of Padova) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico
- Istituto Nazionale per il Commercio Estero
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Antimicrobial agents and applications
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Keywords
- carvacrol, essential oils, antimicrobial activity, bacterial cell envelope, cell surface structure, cell surface roughness, cell morphology, Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, foodborne bacteria, oregano, thyme
- MeSH terms
- Cymenes, Cell Wall, Food Microbiology, Gram-Negative Bacteria, Gram-Positive Bacteria, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Oils, Volatile, Microscopy, Atomic Force, Origanum, Monoterpenes, Thymus Plant
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