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. 2023 Jan 21;12(2):246.
doi: 10.3390/antiox12020246.

Citrus sinensis Essential Oils an Innovative Antioxidant and Antipathogenic Dual Strategy in Food Preservation against Spoliage Bacteria

Marilina Manzur  1 , María C Luciardi  1   2 , M Amparo Blázquez  3 , María R Alberto  1   2 , Elena Cartagena  1   2 , Mario E Arena  1   2
Affiliations

Citrus sinensis Essential Oils an Innovative Antioxidant and Antipathogenic Dual Strategy in Food Preservation against Spoliage Bacteria

Marilina Manzur et al. Antioxidants (Basel). .

Abstract

The present study evaluates the chemical compositions and antioxidant and antipathogenic properties of commercial orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) essential oils obtained using the cold-press method (EOP) and the cold-press method followed by steam distillation (EOPD). The chemical compositions of the volatilizable fractions, determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, were similar in both samples. A relatively large amount of γ-terpinene was found in the EOPD (1.75%) as compared to the EOP (0.84%). Monoterpene hydrocarbons with limonene (90.4-89.8%) followed by myrcene (3.2-3.1%) as the main compounds comprised the principal phytochemical group. The non-volatile phenolics were eight times higher in the EOP than in the EOPD. Several assays with different specificity levels were used to study the antioxidant activity. Although both essential oils presented similar reducing capacities, the radical elimination ability was higher for the EOP. Regarding the antipathogenic properties, the EOs inhibited the biomass and cell viability of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. Furthermore, both EOs similarly attenuated the production of elastase, pyocyanin, and quorum-sensing autoinducers as assessed using Gram-negative bacteria. The EOP and EOPD showed important antioxidant and antipathogenic properties, so they could represent natural alternatives to extend the shelf life of food products by preventing oxidation and contamination caused by microbial spoilage.

Keywords: cold pressing; hydrodistillation; quorum sensing; reducing capacity; scavenging activity; sweet orange; virulence factors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
GC chromatogram of orange essential oil obtained using the cold-pressed method followed by steam distillation (EOPD).
Figure 2
Figure 2
GC chromatogram of the sesquiterpene fractions of orange essential oil obtained using the cold-pressed method (EOP).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Free radical scavenging activity levels of different essential oil concentrations. EOP: Essential oil obtained by cold-pressed method; EOPD: essential oil obtained by cold-pressed method followed by steam distillation. Concentrations assayed for ABTS in EOP at 1.5 (□), 8 (■), and 12 (■) µL/mL and EOPD at 12 (□), 15 (■), and 30 (■) µL/mL. Concentrations assayed for nitric oxide in EOP at 15 (□), 30 (■), and 60 (■) µL/mL and EOPD at 30 (□), 60 (■), and 150 (■) µL/mL. Data are presented as means ± SEMs (n = 3); * represents significant differences between the oils, according to Tukey’s test (p < 0.05).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Growth and biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538 and methicillin-resistant HT1 strains). EOP: Essential oil obtained by cold-pressed method; EOPD: essential oil obtained by cold-pressed method followed by steam distillation; L: Limonene; CPX: ciprofloxacin. Data are presented as means ± SEMs (n = 8) of three independent experiments. All experiments showed significant differences compared to respective controls (p < 0.05).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Growth and biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853 and HT5 strains). EOP: Essential oil obtained by cold-pressed method; EOPD: essential oil obtained by cold-pressed method followed by steam distillation; L: limonene; CPX: ciprofloxacin. Data are presented as means ± SEMs (n = 8) of three independent experiments. All experiments show significant differences compared to the respective controls (p < 0.05), except the sample with asterisk (*).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Elastase activity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and HT5 strains. EOP: Essential oil obtained by cold-pressed method; EOPD: essential oil obtained by cold-pressed method followed by steam distillation; L: limonene; CPX: ciprofloxacin. Data are presented as means ± SEMs (n = 8) of three independent experiments. All experiments show significant differences compared to respective controls (p < 0.05).
Figure 7
Figure 7
The β-galactosidase activity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and HT5 strains. EOP: Essential oil obtained by cold-pressed method; EOPD: essential oil obtained by cold-pressed method followed by steam distillation; L: limonene; AZT: azithromycin. Data are presented as means ± SEMs (n = 8) of three independent experiments. All experiments show significant differences compared to respective controls (p < 0.05).
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