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    Pharmacognosy Communications
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    Pharmacognosy Communications
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    Research Letter

    Evaluation of the potential of Macadamia integriflora extracts as antibacterial food agents

    wadmin2By wadmin2August 21, 2013Updated:August 11, 2021No Comments2 Mins Read
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    Boyer Ha,b and Cock I E a,c*
    aEnvironmental Futures Centre, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Rd, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
    bEcole Supérieure d’Ingénieurs en Développement Agroalimentaire Intégré, Université de la Réunion, Parc Technologique, 2 rue Joseph Wetzell, 27490 Sainte Clotilde, Ile de La Réunion.
    cBiomolecular and Physical Sciences, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Rd, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.

    Pharmacognosy Communications,2013,3,3,53-62.
    DOI:10.5530/pc.2013.3.10
    Published:August 2013
    Type:Research Letter

    ABSTRACT

    Background: Macadamia integriflora (family Proteaceae) is an endemic Australian plant traditionally used by Australian Aborigines as a food. Its nuts are known to keep well, raising the possibility that they may contain antimicrobial compounds and therefore may have value as a functional food to retard spoilage and prevent food poisoning, as well as potential medicinal antibiotic uses. Methods: The antimicrobial activity of M. integriflora was investigated by disc diffusion assays against a panel of bacteria and fungi. Toxicity was determined using the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. Results: All M. integriflora extracts displayed antimicrobial activity in the disc diffusion assay. The flower methanol extract had the broadest specificity, inhibiting the growth of 7 of the 14 bacteria tested (50%) and all 3 (100%) of the fungi tested. All other extracts inhibited the growth of 6 (42.9%) of the bacterial species tested and up to 2 (66.6%) of the fungi tested. All extracts were more effective at inhibiting the growth of Gram-negative bacteria than Gram-positive bacteria. Indeed, only the flower methanol extract was capable of inhibiting the growth of any of the Gram-positive bacteria, inhibiting the growth of only 1 (B. cereus) of the 4 Grampositive bacteria tested (25%). All M. integriflora extracts were non-toxic in the Artemia franciscana bioassay, with no significant increase in mortality induction above that of the negative control. Conclusions: The lack of toxicity of the M. integriflora extracts and their inhibitory bioactivity against a panel of bacteria and fungi demonstrate their potential as food additives to inhibit bacterial spoilage and food borne illnesses without the need for chemical preservative additives. Furthermore, M. integriflora extracts also have promise as antimicrobial agents for medicinal purposes.

    Keywords: Macadamia integriflora, Proteaceae, Australian plants, functional food, antibacterial, antifungal.

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    About Journal

    Pharmacognosy Communications [Phcog Commn.] is a quarterly journal published by Phcog.Net. It is a peer reviewed journal aiming to publish high quality original research articles, methods, techniques and evaluation reports, critical reviews, short communications, commentaries and editorials of all aspects of medicinal plant research. The journal is aimed at a broad readership, publishing articles on all aspects of pharmacognosy, and related fields. The journal aims to increase understanding of pharmacognosy as well as to direct and foster further research through the dissemination of scientific information by the publication of manuscripts. The submission of original contributions in all areas of pharmacognosy are welcome.
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