1. Antimicrobial and cytotoxic knotwood extracts and related pure compounds and their effects on food-associated microorganisms.
- Author
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Välimaa AL, Honkalampi-Hämäläinen U, Pietarinen S, Willför S, Holmbom B, and von Wright A
- Subjects
- Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology, Antifungal Agents pharmacology, Bacteria drug effects, Bacteria growth & development, Colony Count, Microbial, Consumer Product Safety, Fungi drug effects, Fungi growth & development, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Yeasts drug effects, Yeasts growth & development, Food Microbiology, Pinus chemistry, Plant Bark chemistry, Plant Extracts pharmacology, Stilbenes pharmacology
- Abstract
Knotwood or bark extracts prepared from 30 species of hard and soft wood trees as well as selected pure compounds (lignans, stilbenes and flavonoids) were assayed for their antimicrobial activity against a battery of both gram positive and negative bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Lactobacillus plantarum, Escherichia coli, Salmonella infantis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium brevicompactum). By far the most consistent antibacterial and antifungal properties were associated with extracts of Pinus species. These extracts showed also cytotoxicity against a mouse hepatoma cell line. Both antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties correlated with the stilbene content of the extracts. Purified stilbenes showed the most consistent antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities, while purified lignans had marginal effects, only. The results suggest that stilbenes account both for the antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of Pinus knotwood extracts.
- Published
- 2007
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