Antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of essential oil from pink pepper tree (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) in vitro and in cheese experimentally contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

Abstract

Abstract Natural compounds with preservative activity have gained prominence in the field of food science as an alternative to traditional additives. To be effective, biopreservatives must have antioxidant and/or antimicrobial activities, characteristics often found in the essential oils (EO). This study aimed to verify the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of EO from pink pepper tree fruit. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated in vitro on 18 bacteria, and in situ (Minas-type fresh cheese) against Listeria monocytogenes during storage (30 days/4 °C). The EO from ripe fruit showed the greatest activity in in vitro tests (MBC of 6.8 mg/mL for L. monocytogenes) and exhibited biopreservative activity in situ, having reduced the development of L. monocytogenes by 1.3 log CFU/g in 30 days. The values of peroxides and malonaldehydes were reduced by 3 Meq O2/Kg and 0.15 mg MDA/Kg, respectively, in 30 days. Results demonstrate that this EO has the potential to act as a preservative in food. Industrial relevance The pink pepper tree (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) is a plant with favorable features for industrial use, but little exploited by the food industry so far. In this work, the essential oil (EO) of the pink pepper tree was presented as an alternative to us of preservatives traditionally applied in food. For this, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the EO were evaluated and discussed, analyzing its effects initially in vitro and after in situ, in order to infer the technological potential for application this extract may have use as a food biopreservative.