Berry and Grape Metabolites for Antimicrobial Applications Against Foodborne Bacterial Pathogens

Abstract

The increase in the resistance of microorganisms to chemical substances and conventional drugs presents a serious and obvious problem worldwide, which has determined numerous researches aimed at the identification of new biocides with extended activity. Plants and their derivatives contain a wide variety of secondary metabolites that can inhibit or slow down the growth of bacteria, yeasts and molds. The microbiostatic activity of some berries represents a promising source of alternative solutions for their use in order to reduce the microbial contamination of raw materials and food products. The article elucidates the in vitro microbiostatic and microbicidal effects of some berries and grape marc rich in phenolic compounds with microorganisms that cause food spoilage: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The composition of the extracts is examined, and possible mechanisms of antimicrobial action are analyzed.