Abstract
Berry fruits are rich sources of bioactive compounds, such as phenolics
and organic acids, which have antimicrobial activities against human
pathogens. Among different berries and berry phenolics, cranberry,
cloudberry, raspberry, strawberry and bilberry especially possess clear
antimicrobial effects against, e.g. Salmonella and Staphylococcus.
Complex phenolic polymers, like ellagitannins, are strong antibacterial
agents present in cloudberry and raspberry. Several mechanisms of
action in the growth inhibition of bacteria are involved, such as
destabilisation of cytoplasmic membrane, permeabilisation of plasma
membrane, inhibition of extracellular microbial enzymes, direct actions
on microbial metabolism and deprivation of the substrates required for
microbial growth. Antimicrobial activity of berries may also be related
to antiadherence of bacteria to epithelial cells, which is a
prerequisite for colonisation and infection of many pathogens.
Antimicrobial berry compounds may have important applications in the
future as natural antimicrobial agents for food industry as well as for
medicine. Some of the novel approaches are discussed.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 8 - 18 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology |
Volume | 67 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2005 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Keywords
- berries
- cranberry
- cloudberry
- raspberry
- strawberry
- bilberry
- antimicrobial effects
- antimicrobial agents
- Salmonella
- Staphylococcus
- phenolic polymers
- ellagitannins