Inhibition of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris spores by natural compounds

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of some natural compounds (cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, limonene) and sodium benzoate against two strains of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris (c8 and gamma 4). The antimicrobial compounds (10-500 ppm) were solved in malt extract broth, inoculated separately with 10(3) spores mL(-1) of each strain; the samples were incubated at 44 degrees C and the outgrowth of spores was evaluated every day by measuring the absorbance of the medium at 420 nm; inoculated samples without active compounds were used as controls. The results pointed out that limonene was not effective in inhibiting the outgrowth of A. acidoterrestris spores; 100 ppm of cinnamaldehyde or sodium benzoate slowed the spore germination, whereas 500 ppm of eugenol inhibited the growth of microbial targets for 13 days. Strain c8 was more resistant than isolate gamma 4 and cinnamaldehyde was the most effective compound in inhibiting the germination of A. acidoterrestris spores.