Membrane toxicity of antimicrobial compounds from essential oils
Abstract
Natural antimicrobial compounds perform their action mainly against cell membranes. The aim of this work was to evaluate the interaction, meant as a mechanism of action, of essential oil antimicrobial compounds with the microbial cell envelope. The lipid profiles of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Brochothrix thermosphacta cells treated with thymol, carvacrol, limonene, eugenol, and cinnamaldehyde have been analyzed by gas chromatography. In line with the fatty acids analysis, the treated cells were also observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate structural alterations. The overall results showed a strong decrease of the unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) for the treated cells; in particular, the C18:2trans and C18:3cis underwent a notable reduction contributing to the total UFA decreases, while the saturated fatty acid C17:0 raised the highest concentration in cinnamaldehyde-treated cells. SEM images showed that the used antimicrobial compounds quickly exerted their antimicrobial activities, determining structural alterations of the cell envelope.
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Essential oils may affect the enzymes involved in fatty acid synthesis, such as a multicomponent membrane desaturase enzyme.
“In addition to direct effects on the fatty acids of the OM, EOs may also affect the enzymes that are involved in fatty acid synthesis, such as a multicomponent membrane desaturase enzyme that is generally employed by cells to produce saturated fatty acids (SFAs) [35,76,77].”
From Effect of essential oils on pathogenic bacteria (2013) · cites this paper as [35]
SEM analysis of different bacteria treated with eugenol, thymol and carvacrol revealed alterations in the composition of the fatty acids and the morphology of the cells.
“The SEM analysis of different bacteria treated with eugenol, thymol and carvacrol performed by Di Pasqua et al. [35] revealed alterations in the composition of the fatty acids and the morphology of the cells.”
From Effect of essential oils on pathogenic bacteria (2013) · cites this paper as [35]
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- Authors
- Di Pasqua, R., Betts, G., Hoskins, N., Edwards, M., Ercolini, D., & Mauriello, G.
- Affiliations
- Department of Food Science, Division of Microbiology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università 100, 80055 Portici, Italy, and Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, GL55 6LD, United Kingdom
- University of Naples Federico II (IT)
- Venue
- Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2007-05-12
- Volume
- 55
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 4863-4870
- ISSN
- 0021-8561 (ISSN-L)
- 1520-5118
- OpenAlex
- W2007601631
- Cited by
- 648
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 38 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 49 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 61 · 2020: 51 · 2019: 44 · 2018: 46 · 2017: 43 · 2016: 43 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 37 · 2012: 21
- FWCI
- 16.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- 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
- essential oils, antimicrobial agents, membrane toxicity, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Brochothrix thermosphacta, thymol, carvacrol, limonene, eugenol, cinnamaldehyde, unsaturated fatty acids, fatty acid composition, mechanism of action
- MeSH terms
- Anti-Infective Agents, Bacteria, Cell Membrane, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Microscopy, Electron, Scanning, Oils, Volatile, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157
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