Abstract
Delipidated and dehydrated starfish, Asteropecten scoparius, Asterias amurensis Asterina pectinifera and Distolasterias nippon were calcined and powered to test their bactericidal effects for foodborne disease causing bacteria. The powders calcined at 55°C showed merely inhibition for the growth of Escherichia coli 0-157 : H7, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enteritidis. However, the powders calcined at 700°C completely inhibited the bacterial growth at over 0.4% (minimal concentration tested). CaCO3, a major chemical constituent of the starfish, changed to CaO by calcination at 700°C or higher. The Asterias amurensis and Distolasterias nippon powders calcined at 900°C for 10 hrs consisted of Ca, Mg, Na and Cl, of 72-77, 11-15, 5.4-6.4 6.4 and 2.9-4. 3%, respectively, as the major minerals. Even in 0.02% aqueous solution of the powders procured by calcination at 800°C, the pH values indicated were around 11.5, and 0.2% solution had about 12.5 of high alkalinities. From the results, it seems that the bactericidal effect of calcined powder of starfish could be attributed to the multiple effects of high alkalinity and other trace elements.
