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Antimicrobial Substances in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Production

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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 February 2025 | Viewed by 15620

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Prof. Dr. Daniela Gwiazdowska

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Department of Natural Science and Quality Assurance, Poznań University of Economics and Business, Poznan, WP, Poland
Interests: design and quality assessment of bioactive food; probiotic preparations; biological detoxification of mycotoxins
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Katarzyna Marchwińska

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Department of Natural Science and Quality Assurance, Poznań University of Economics and Business, Poznan, WP, Poland
Interests: quality assessment and functional properties of fermented food waste, bioactive products and probiotic formulations
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Dr. Krzysztof Juś

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Department of Natural Science and Quality Assurance, Poznań University of Economics and Business, Poznan, WP, Poland
Interests: design and effectiveness assessment of biological control agents against mycotoxigenic fungi in food chain
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Microbial contamination constitutes one of the biggest threats in agriculture and food production, causing significant loss with economic, social, and environmental impacts. Based on the available data, the greatest problem in agricultural production are toxinogenic filamentous fungi, mainly of the genus Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Fusarium, while in relation to market products, microorganisms such as Salmonella enteritidis, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Yersinia enterocolitica or Campylobacter jejuni are responsible for the most common infections. Therefore, providing an adequate level of safety in the food and feed chain with respect to environmental conditions is one of the priority goals in modern agriculture and food production. Today, to achieve the goals of sustainable production, more emphasis is placed on substances or methods which exhibit less or no negative impact on the environment and consumer health conditions. For this reason, there is a constant need to search for new, promising substances such as plant origin compounds or microbial metabolites, which demonstrate antagonism toward different harmful microorganisms. These compounds may be used in agriculture and food production for preventive measures such as plant protection or disinfection. On the other hand, at the post-production stage (storage, distribution, consumption), the use of active packaging or durability indicators seems to be a promising solution. Moreover, implementation of new technologies as well as sustainable recovery of antimicrobial substances from waste materials are also welcome.

We would like to invite and encourage all scientists involved in the search for and research on new antimicrobial substances and their application in agriculture and food production for the control of microbiological hazards in the whole food chain to jointly create this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Daniela Gwiazdowska
Dr. Katarzyna Marchwińska
Dr. Krzysztof Juś
Guest Editors

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Keywords

antimicrobial
food chain safety
plant protection
packaging
sustainable agriculture and food production
microbial hazard control

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 627 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Three-Dimensional Analysis of the Impact of Different Concentrations of Glyphosate on the Growth of Cocoa (Theobroma cacao)

by Juan Diego Valenzuela-Cobos, Fabricio Guevara-Viejó, Purificación Galindo-Villardón and Purificación Vicente-Galindo

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(18), 8180; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188180 - 11 Sep 2024

Viewed by 663

Abstract

Ecuadorian cocoa possesses important organoleptic characteristics such as aroma and flavor, called fine and aromatic cocoa. The objective of this study was to evaluate the initial growth responses of young cocoa seedlings to glyphosate in a dose progression in 45 cocoa plants (5 months old), which were transplanted into pots with substrate adjusted to pH 6.0–6.5. Glyphosate doses (0 to 904 g e.e. ha⁻¹) were applied every two weeks, evaluating the impact at 30 and 60 days post-application. Data on shikimate accumulation parameters, chlorophyll content and PSII quantum efficiency were subjected to multivariate analysis using a three-dimensional scatter plot. The results indicated that high concentrations of glyphosate contributed to higher shikimate concentration and lower PSII quantum efficiency. The findings for the variables crop damage, stem height and stem diameter were evaluated by ANOVA. Similarities were reported between the results of the variables height and diameter, and significant differences (p < 0.05) in the variable crop damage for all treatments were also reported. In terms of phytotoxic reaction and growth parameters, the most efficient treatment was DO4, since the seedlings with this dosage showed a low percentage of damage (10%) and the best indices in terms of height and diameter. The least efficient treatment was D15. The control plants (DO1) showed a crop damage of >50% because the absence of control favored weed proliferation. These indications highlight the need to adjust glyphosate doses according to the specific needs of each crop and the development stage of the plant in order to reduce negative effects and maximize potential benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Substances in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Production)

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21 pages, 1701 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Innovative Functional Lactic Acid Bacteria Fermented Oat Beverages with the Addition of Fruit Extracts and Lyophilisates

by Katarzyna Marchwińska, Daniela Gwiazdowska, Krzysztof Juś, Paulina Gluzińska, Julia Gwiazdowska and Katarzyna Pawlak-Lemańska

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(23), 12707; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132312707 - 27 Nov 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1611

Abstract

Nowadays, plant-based fermented products are attracting a lot of consumer interest due to their probiotic and health-promoting properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbiological quality and antioxidant activity of innovative fermented oat beverages with the addition of extracts and freeze-dried local fruit. In the first step, chokeberry and hawthorn were selected based on their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The final study material consisted of oat beverages fermented with the use of the Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DKK 003 strain for 20 h with the addition of 1 and 5% of extracts and freeze-dried fruits. It was found that freeze-dried chokeberry and chokeberry extracts showed a higher content of polyphenolic compounds than freeze-dried hawthorn and hawthorn extracts. After the fermentation process of the innovative beverages, the content of polyphenolic compounds remained the same or there was a slight decrease depending on the additive type. Antioxidant activity significantly decreased after 20 h of fermentation in all enriched oat beverages with no significant differences observed compared to control samples. The obtained fermented beverages were characterised by a high lactic acid bacteria count (above 8 log CFU/mL), a low pH (approximately 4.15), and no microbiological contamination. Oat fermented beverages with fruit additives can be good dietary enrichment products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Substances in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Production)

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14 pages, 3172 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Essential Oils from Different Parts of Azorean Cryptomeria japonica (Thunb. ex L.f.) D. Don (Cupressaceae): Comparison of the Yields, Chemical Compositions, and Biological Properties

by Ana Lima, Filipe Arruda, Alexandre Janeiro, Tânia Rodrigues, José Baptista, Ana Cristina Figueiredo and Elisabete Lima

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(14), 8375; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13148375 - 20 Jul 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1477

Abstract

Azorean Cryptomeria japonica is widely used for local wood production, generating large amounts of aerial-part biomass residues that can be a sustainable source of value-added bioproducts. This comparative study aimed (i) to determine the yield and chemical profile of the essential oils (EOs) extracted by hydrodistillation from Azorean C. japonica foliage, leaves, male cones (MCs), and female cones (FCs), and (ii) to investigate the antimicrobial and brine shrimp lethality (BSL) effects of the obtained EOs and some major components. The EOs yield revealed a wide range (ca. 1–3%, w/d.w.) and their chemical composition, analysed by GC–MS and GC–FID, showed the presence of seventy-one components. Monoterpene hydrocarbons (38–71%) dominated in all the studied EOs, mainly α-pinene (17–45% of total EOs), decreasing as follows: cone EOs > leaf EOs > foliage EOs. Oxygen-containing monoterpenes (mainly terpinen-4-ol) also dominated in cone EOs. Contrariwise, oxygen-containing sesquiterpenes (mainly elemol) and diterpene hydrocarbons (mainly phyllocladene) dominated in foliage/leaf EOs. The studied EOs exhibited activity against Gram-positive bacteria but no activity against Gram-negative bacteria. A similar trend was displayed by α-pinene. Only the cone EOs showed antifungal activity against Penicillium chrysogenum, but this was significantly lower than those of α-pinene and terpinen-4-ol. Moreover, FC EO should also be considered for further investigation due to its high toxicity on BSL bioassay. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the variability of yield, chemical profile, and bioactivities in the EOs from different parts of the Azorean C. japonica, expanding the knowledge of the potentialities of C. japonica aerial-part EOs, particularly the ones from the cone samples. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Substances in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Production)

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15 pages, 1465 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bioprospecting of the Telekia speciosa: Uncovering the Composition and Biological Properties of Its Essential Oils

by Anna Wajs-Bonikowska, Łukasz Szoka, Paweł Kwiatkowski, Surya Nandan Meena and Anna Stojakowska

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(9), 5674; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13095674 - 5 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1874

Abstract

The essential oils (EOs) of Telekia speciosa, a perennial plant native to southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, were analyzed for their composition and biological properties. T. speciosa is an invasive plant in Poland; however, its beauty prompts gardeners to cultivate the plants. T. speciosa serves as a valuable source of nectar and pollen for honey bees. Our results revealed more than 150 compounds in the flower, leaf, and root EOs. Major constituents found in the essential oils from the roots included isoalantolacton (46.2%) and from the flowers nerol (11.9%), while from the leaves, they included (E)-nerolidol (10.1%). T. speciosa flower EO showed significant cytotoxicity against A375 cells, with IC₅₀ values of 7.2, 5.1, and 3.4 μg/mL referring to 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively, indicating its potential as a natural cytotoxic agent. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 was also investigated. The essential oils from the flowers and leaves of T. speciosa demonstrated higher inhibitory activity against S. aureus (MIC: 5.9–7.8 μL/mL) and E. coli (MIC: 7.8–11.7 μL/mL) than the essential oil isolated from the roots of the plant (MICs 31.3 and 62.5 μL/mL against S. aureus and E. coli, respectively). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Substances in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Production)

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21 pages, 5599 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Selected South African Plants against Drug-Resistant Staphylococci Isolated from Clinical Cases of Bovine Mastitis

by Ayodele O. Akinboye, Ibukun M. Famuyide, Inge-Marie Petzer and Lyndy J. McGaw

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(9), 5560; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13095560 - 29 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1644

Abstract

Bovine mastitis in dairy livestock production is a serious economic problem causing milk production losses and increased management costs. Staphylococcus aureus and non-aureus staphylococcus (NAS) are important causes of bovine mastitis. Antimicrobial resistance can limit the control of mastitis pathogens. Antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of acetone and ethanol extracts of nine South African plants were determined against reference and drug-resistant staphylococci isolated from clinical cases of bovine mastitis. The nine plants, namely, Antidesma venosum, Elaeodendron croceum, Erythrina caffra, Indigofera frutescens, Pleurostylia capensis, Searsia lancea, Searsia leptodictya, Trichilia emetica, and Ziziphus mucronata, were chosen for research material. The antibacterial activity of extracts was determined using a serial microdilution method, while a tetrazolium-based assay was used to determine their cytotoxicity against Vero cells. The values of antibacterial minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) obtained were promising, with MIC ranging between 0.01 and 1.41 mg/mL. Generally, acetone extracts of most plants had better activity than their ethanol counterparts. The S. aureus strains were more susceptible to all the extracts than the NAS strains. The plant extracts’ half-maximal toxicity (LC₅₀) was higher than 0.02 mg/mL, which is the recommended cytotoxic cut-off concentration. The ethanol extract of E. caffra, which showed better MIC values than its acetone extract, had the highest mean selectivity index (SI) of 8.30. Among the plants tested, S. lancea exhibited the most potent antibacterial activity, suggesting its potential usefulness as a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent against staphylococci associated with bovine mastitis, at relatively non-cytotoxic concentrations. Therefore, it is recommended for further investigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Substances in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Production)

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20 pages, 355 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity of Extracts from Selected Plant Material

by Mariola Kozłowska, Iwona Ścibisz, Jarosław L. Przybył, Agnieszka E. Laudy, Ewa Majewska, Katarzyna Tarnowska, Jolanta Małajowicz and Małgorzata Ziarno

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(19), 9871; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12199871 - 30 Sep 2022

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5436

Abstract

Plants are a valuable source of biologically active molecules, mainly phenolic compounds. In the present study, the total phenolic content (TPC), DPPH^· and ABTS⁺ scavenging activity as well as ferric reducing ability (FRAP) of aqueous ethanolic (70%) extracts of Cistus incanus L. and Asarum europaeum L. herb, Geum urbanum L. rhizome, Angelica archangelica L. root, white mulberry (Morus alba L.), lemon balm (Melisa officinalis L.), red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) and Betula pendula Roth. leaves were determined. In addition, the phenolic profiles of the studied plant extracts and antibacterial activity have been investigated. The extracts from C. incanus and G. urbanum demonstrated the highest TPC and antioxidant capacity, while the extracts from A. archangelica and white mulberry were characterized by the lowest values. A remarkable correlation was also found between the TPC and antioxidant activity of the examined extracts. HPLC analysis showed that the studied extracts were sources of both phenolic acids and flavonoids. More flavonoids than phenolic acids were identified in the extracts of C. incanus, M. alba, R. idaeus and B. pendula compared to the other extracts tested. Not all extracts showed a significant impact on the growth of the tested bacterial strains. Escherichia coli was the most sensitive strain to lemon balm extract (MIC, 0.125 mg/mL), whereas the strains of Acinetobacter baumannii and Bordetella bronchiseptica were sensitive to the G. urbanum extract (MIC, 0.125 mg/mL). Among Gram-positive bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis was the most sensitive to G. urbanum extract. In turn, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were sensitive to the extracts from C. incanus herb (MIC, 0.125 mg/mL), red raspberry (MIC, 0.125 mg/mL) and lemon balm leaves (MIC. 0.25 mg/mL). Based on the obtained results, the applicability of the studied plant extracts as additives to food and cosmetic products may be considered in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Substances in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Production)

13 pages, 2354 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficacy of Herbal Extracts-Based Nano-Formulations in Extending Guava Fruit Shelf-Life

by Anju Rani, Jayanti Tokas, Pernika Gupta, Himani Punia and Satpal Baloda

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(17), 8630; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12178630 - 29 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1969

Abstract

The guava (Psidium guajava L.), known as ‘Apple of the Tropics’ is a rich source of polyphenols, pectin, dietary fiber, and carotenoids. Guava comes under climacteric types of fruits; due to its high transpiration and respiration rate it experiences high post-harvest losses. Giloy leaf and ajwain seed herbal extracts-based nano-formulations (NFs) were synthesized using biopolymer sodium alginate and CaCl_2, viz., T1 (Alginate: CaCl₂), T2 (Alginate: CaCl₂: Ajwain extract), and T3 (Alginate: CaCl₂: Giloy extract). Antibacterial and antioxidant activity of the NFs were examined to check their efficacy as antibacterial agents, which was checked against E. coli, P. aeruginosa and B. cereus bacterial culture. The zone of inhibition against bacteria ranged from 6 ± 0.42 mm to 14 ± 0.92 mm. Antioxidant activity was 93.27%, 71.67%, and 67.04% for T2, T3 and T1 NFs and 89.90% and 67.05% for ajwain and giloy extracts. NFs treated fruits showed minimum loss in physiological weight, firmness, and color change compared to control fruit (uncoated). Physiological loss in weight ranged from 3.16 to 17.21% and 3.23 to 15.57% and fruit firmness ranged from 4.47 to 8.41 kg/cm² and 4.84 to 8.37 kg/cm² during storage at 25 ± 2 °C (incubation) and 32 ± 2 °C (room temperature), respectively. Among NFs, T2 showed the best results in preventing ripening and maximum loss of quality was observed in control (uncoated) fruits. Thus, NFs are an effective method of extending the shelf-life of fruits and ajwain based NFs increased shelf life of guava from 4–5 days to 7–8 days. Fruits storage at 25 ± 2 °C showed better results compared to storage at 32 ± 2 °C. Thus, NFs treated fruits storage at lower temperature controls the ripening related changes maximally. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Substances in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Production)

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