Antimicrobial Natural phenolic compounds
Phenolic compounds are one of the most diverse groups of secondary metabolites found in edible plants.Major groups of compounds that are responsible for antimicrobial activity from plants include phenolics,phenolic acids, quinones, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, coumarins,terpenoids, and alkaloids. Phenolic compounds possess great structural variations and are one of the most diverse groups of secondary metabolites. The hydroxyl (eOH) groups in phenolic compounds are thought to cause inhibitory action as these groups can interact with the cell membrane of bacteria to disrupt membrane structures and cause the leakage of cellular components Active group such as eOH promotes the delocalization of electrons which then act as proton exchangers and reduce the gradient across the cytoplasmic membrane of bacterial cells. This will cause the collapse of the proton motive force and depletion of the ATP pool and ultimately leading to cell death. Phenolic compounds also act as antioxidants. The presence of a free eOH group in phenolic compounds results in the antioxidant properties. This property has been reported to inhibit the generation of reactive oxygen species, as well as the scavenging of free radicals thereby reducing the redox potential of the growth medium. 1
It was reported that an antimicrobial action of phenolic compounds was related to inactivation of cellular enzymes, which depended on the rate of penetration of the substance into the cell or caused by membrane permeability changes. Increased membrane permeability is a major factor in the mechanism of antimicrobial action, where compounds may disrupt membranes and cause a loss of cellular integrity and eventual cell death.
Table-1 Some phenolic compounds and their natural sources2
Compound | Structure | Source |
Caffeic acid | Coffee beans, white grapes, olive, spinach | |
Capsaicin | Chili peppers (septa) | |
Chlorogenic acid | Coffee beans, cumin, bamboo, honeysuckle flower | |
Coumarin | Tonka beans, vanilla, sweet grass, strawberries, cherries, woodruff, apricots | |
Curcumin | Turmeric, mustard | |
Decanol | Strawberries, | |
Ellagic acid | Berries, pomegranate, grape, walnut, pecan | |
(-) Epicatechin | Tea leaves, cacao beans, cinnamon stick | |
Eugenol | Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, bay leaf, basil | |
Gallic acid | Grapes, gallnuts, sumac, tea leaves, hops, oak bark | |
Myricetin | Berries, grapes, walnuts | |
Naringenin | Grapefruits, oranges | |
p-Coumaric acid | Peanuts, tomatoes, carrots, garlic | |
Quercetin | Onions, skins of apples, citrus fruits,cherries, fennel | |
Rosmarinic acid | Rosemary leaves and flowers, thyme | |
Rutin | Asparagus, brake fern, citrus fruits, buckwheat | |
Syringic acid | Acai palm trees, swiss chard, corn | |
Tannic acid | Berries, nettle, tea leaves, sumac leaves, oak wood, chestnut, gallnuts | |
Thymol | Thyme, nigella seeds (black cumin) | |
Thymoquinine | Nigella seeds (black cumin) | |
Xanthohumol | Female hops flowers, dandelion, marigold |
During food processing, oftentimes large amount of by-products are generated including fruit pomace, seeds, peels, pulps, unused flesh, and husks. Although these by-products typically have been considered waste, some studies have shown that the peels, seeds, husks and kernels are promising sources of valuable components such as phenolic compounds (polyphenols, tannins, and flavonoids) and many other bioactive components that have several functionalities including antimicrobial activity
Table-2 Plant by-products as antimicrobials 1
Reference:
1. Rabin Gyawali a, b, Salam A. Ibrahim , Natural products as antimicrobial agents, Food Control 46 (2014)
2. Hayriye Cetin-Karaca, University of Kentucky , Master's Theses,Evaluation of natural antimicrobial phenolic compounds against foodborne pathogens