1998 Volume 15 Issue 2 Pages 107-112
The antimicrobial activity of mustard extract containing allyl isothiocyanate (AIT), the major pungent component, against Yersinia enterocolitica and Listeria monocytogenes, which are known as low temperature growth bacteria, was determined by gaseous contact.
The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for AIT to both bacterial cells was examined by incubation in glass jars with different concentrations of AIT. The MIC of AIT to injure these bacterial cells was also studied.
The MIC of AIT against Y. enterocolitica was found to be 14 ppm at 10°C, 45ppm at 20°C, 68 ppm at 30°C and 36 ppm at 40°C. The MIC of AIT against L. monocytogenes was found to be 14 ppm at 10°C, 71 ppm at 20°C, 98 pp mat 30°C and 145 ppm at 40°C . Since the MIC of AIT to both bacterial cells at 10°C was low, AIT is considered effective for low temperature growth bacteria at low temperature.
With injured bacterial cells, the MIC of AIT to log-phase and dead-phase cells of Y. enterocolitica was 20 ppm at 30°C, that to log-phase and dead-phase cells of L. monocytogenes was found to be 43 ppm and 68 ppm at 30°C, respectively. From these findings, AIT is more effective for injured bacterial cells than uninjured cells.
