Blackthorn Fruit Extracts and Blue Light to Combat Harmful Bacteria

Jim Crocker
9th September, 2024

Blackthorn Fruit Extracts and Blue Light to Combat Harmful Bacteria

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study by the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn found that blackthorn fruit peel (BFP) combined with blue light (BL) can effectively kill Listeria monocytogenes
  • BFP contains polyphenols like quercetin and rutin, which are crucial for its antimicrobial activity
  • The combination of BFP and BL led to a rapid inactivation of Listeria, causing extensive membrane damage to over 90% of the bacteria
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a significant global health threat, prompting the need for new antimicrobial strategies. One promising approach is photodynamic inactivation (PDI), which uses light and photosensitizers to eradicate pathogens. A recent study by the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn explored a novel combinatory strategy to eradicate Listeria monocytogenes using blackthorn fruit peel (BFP) and blue light (BL)[1]. The study began by characterizing BFP extracts in terms of their polyphenolic content, individual constituents, and antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Polyphenols are a group of naturally occurring compounds found in plants, known for their antioxidant properties. The researchers found that the concentration of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity were crucial determinants of the antimicrobial activity of BFP against L. monocytogenes. Specifically, flavonols such as quercetin and rutin were identified as the primary active constituents. When BFP was combined with BL, the results were striking. The combination led to a rapid inactivation of L. monocytogenes by up to 4 log CFU/mL at 58.5 J/cm2, which corresponds to 15 minutes of BL illumination. Flow cytometry analysis, a technique used to analyze the physical and chemical characteristics of cells, revealed that more than 90% of the bacterial population suffered extensive membrane damage and lost activity. This indicates that BFP, when used as a photosensitizer, can significantly enhance the antimicrobial effects of BL. The study also delved into the individual effects of quercetin and rutin, the main constituents of BFP. Photosensitizing L. monocytogenes with these compounds resulted in a 1.3-log reduction in bacterial count. When applied together, quercetin and rutin had an additive effect, inflicting the same level of damage on the bacterial cells as they did individually. These findings align with earlier research highlighting the antimicrobial potential of plant compounds. For instance, a review of plant antimicrobial agents from 2016 to 2021 identified polyphenols and terpenes as the most active phytochemicals, often disrupting the plasma membrane of bacteria[2]. The current study supports this by showing that the phenolic compounds in BFP, particularly flavonols, are effective in damaging bacterial membranes. Moreover, the use of curcumin, another plant-derived compound, has been previously studied for its effectiveness in photosensitizing Listeria biofilms[3]. Curcumin combined with blue light led to significant reductions in bacterial counts, similar to the effects observed with BFP and BL. Both studies highlight the potential of plant-based photosensitizers in enhancing the efficacy of photodynamic inactivation. The current study's findings also have practical implications for food safety. Previous research demonstrated the effectiveness of curcumin-mediated PDI in preserving the quality of salmon contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes[4]. The use of BFP and BL could similarly be applied to control L. monocytogenes in food-related applications, ensuring both safety and quality. In summary, the study by the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn demonstrates that blackthorn fruit peel, rich in polyphenols like quercetin and rutin, can act as an effective photosensitizer in combination with blue light to eradicate Listeria monocytogenes. This approach not only enhances the antimicrobial effects but also offers a natural and potentially safer alternative to traditional chemical preservatives. The findings contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of plant-based compounds in innovative antimicrobial treatments.

FruitsMedicineBiochem

References

Main Study

1) Blackthorn fruit peel polyphenol extracts and photodynamic effect under blue light against Listeria monocytogenes.

Published 7th September, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fm.2024.104608

Related Studies

2) Antibacterial plant compounds, extracts and essential oils: An updated review on their effects and putative mechanisms of action.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153626

3) Photodynamic inactivation of Listeria innocua biofilms with food-grade photosensitizers: a curcumin-rich extract of Curcuma longa vs commercial curcumin.

https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.13767

4) Application of the curcumin-mediated photodynamic inactivation for preserving the storage quality of salmon contaminated with L. monocytogenes.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.129974


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