**5. The sensitivity of some important food-borne pathogens to plant extracts and EOs**

#### **5.1** *Listeria monocytogenes*

Food-borne diseases are one of the major public health problems worldwide, and recent reports indicate that *Listeria monocytogenes* is a major concern. *Listeria monocytogenes* can cause food intoxication, meningitis and encephalitis [6]. Control of these bacteria and its diseases are very important. So, various studies have been carried out on the effects of different essential oils and extracts on growth and control of these bacteria.

In the study of Ehsani et al. [46], the results have shown that treatments of 0.1% *Allium ascalonicum* and *Pimpinella anisum* essential oils at the end of cheese ripening period showed the highest decrease in the mean bacterial colony counts. The results of Mahmoudi et al. study have shown that *Cuminum cyminum L.* essential oil on *Listeria monocytogenes* has effects at different concentrations [8]. These results, as well as the results from other studies, have shown that essential oils and plant extracts could help the control of the bacteria in the food industry.

#### **5.2** *Salmonella typhimurium*

*Salmonella typhimurium* is a pathogenic food-borne bacterium. *Salmonella* is widespread worldwide and found sporadically in water, soil, animal food, meat,

**7**

**7. Conclusion**

*Applications of Medicinal Herbs and Essential Oils in Food Safety*

during the 28 days of preservation of probiotic yoghurt [49].

control these bacteria in their experiments [6].

**6. Herbal medicines appear relatively safe**

faeces and vegetables and can infect many mammals and birds [47]. Considering that this bacterium can cause disease through food, including dairy products in humans, its control through essential oils and plant extracts is very much considered. *Salmonella* infection may occur in one of three clinical forms of self-sustaining gastroenteritis, then septicaemia with local lesions or an enteric fever or typhoid

For example, *Teucrium polium* EO has the best *Salmonella* growth inhibition at 60 ppm and 80 ppm concentrations. In this research, no *Salmonella* was isolated

*Staphylococcus aureus* is one of the most important pathogenic food-borne bacteria. These bacteria can cause diarrhoea and vomiting intoxication [5]. Due to the importance of these bacteria and its toxicity, as well as due to the health hazards of chemical preservatives, researchers have used various essential oils and herbs to

In the result of one study, essential oil of *Mentha longifolia L.* with a concentration of 150 ppm has an inhibitory effect against *Staphylococcus aureus* [6]. In a study, 21 essential oils were used for antibacterial effects. As a result, the essential oils of *Corydothymus capitatus*, *Cinnamomum cassia*, *Origanum heracleoticum*, *Satureja montana* and *Cinnamomum verum* were effective against *Staphylococcus aureus* [50, 51]. Today, the importance of biofilm formation in the food industry is also high, so studies have also been carried out and are expanding. In these studies, vegetable oils are used to prevent and eliminate biofilms. For example, the compounds in essential oils such as SAB, C3 and C4 are highly effective against biofilms created by

Traditional medicine has brought the foundation of health care around the world from the earliest days of human beings. Medicinal plants have been known for many years as a rich source of well-known therapeutic agents for the treatment and prevention of various diseases, the most important of which is the social, cultural, spiritual and medicinal fields. Over the past centuries, severe changes in human lifestyle and dietary habits have led to the emergence of various chronic pathologies. Recently, "herbal renaissance" is a visible phenomenon worldwide, and two-thirds of the plant species in the world may have medicinal value. The World Health Organisation believes that 80% of the population in Africa and Asia uses traditional medicine as the first source for their health-care needs. Also, in the United States, more than 40% of the population has recently been identified with complementary and alternative supplements, including herbal supplements [53].

Herbal drugs appear to be relatively safe, but human research or prospective data on adverse effects and plant and drug interactions are limited. They generally have fewer drugs than their pure relatives because they contain a mixture of chemicals that are in low amounts. According to studies, the importance of edible oral pathogens is not covered for everyone. According to studies, the importance of food-borne pathogen bacteria is not covered for everyone. On the other hand, due to

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87215*

fever [48].

**5.3** *Staphylococcus aureus*

*Staphylococcus aureus* [52].

*Applications of Medicinal Herbs and Essential Oils in Food Safety DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87215*

faeces and vegetables and can infect many mammals and birds [47]. Considering that this bacterium can cause disease through food, including dairy products in humans, its control through essential oils and plant extracts is very much considered. *Salmonella* infection may occur in one of three clinical forms of self-sustaining gastroenteritis, then septicaemia with local lesions or an enteric fever or typhoid fever [48].

For example, *Teucrium polium* EO has the best *Salmonella* growth inhibition at 60 ppm and 80 ppm concentrations. In this research, no *Salmonella* was isolated during the 28 days of preservation of probiotic yoghurt [49].

#### **5.3** *Staphylococcus aureus*

*Essential Oils - Oils of Nature*

**4.7** *Ferula sharifi*

**4.6** *Aloe vera* **gel (***Aloe barbadensis Miller***)**

diabetes and rheumatism [22, 40, 42–45].

**extracts and EOs**

**5.1** *Listeria monocytogenes*

control of these bacteria.

**5.2** *Salmonella typhimurium*

*Aloe vera* (*Aloe barbadensis Miller*) is a plant, which belongs to the family of *Liliaceae*. *Aloe vera* grows in arid climates and is widely distributed in India, Africa and other arid areas [27]. The 0.7% of gel of leaves is made up of solids mainly carbohydrates [28]. Activity against a variety of infectious agents has been attributed to *Aloe vera* such as antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal effects [29–31]. Some specific plant's compounds have been proposed to have direct antimicrobial activity, for example, anthraquinones, dihydroxyanthraquinones and saponins [32–35]. The antibactericidal activity of *Aloe vera* gel may be attributed to active compounds such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids as well as saponins which have a direct antimicrobial activity [33, 36]. In the results of a study, the antimicrobial potency of *Aloe vera* gel aqueous extract against *E. coli* has been shown in yoghurt [37]. In the study of Agarry et al. [38], they reported that leaf extracts had antibacterial activity against bacterial species such as *S. aureus*, *Klebsiella pneumoniae* and *E. coli*. In another study, the ethanol extract of *Aloe vera* gel inhibited the growth of *E. coli* and *S. aureus* [39].

The genus *Ferula* belongs to the family *Apiaceae* that comprises about 170 species in the world. These genera are produced from central Asia to northern Africa [40]. These plants are well documented as a good source of biologically active compounds such as sesquiterpenoids and sulphur-containing compounds [41]. Species of this genus have been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various organ disorders, for example, *F. assa-foetida* used as anticonvulsant, carminative, antispasmodic, diuretic, aphrodisiac, antihelmintic, tonic, laxative and alterative or *F. persica* used as laxative, carminative, antihysteric and for treatment of lumbago,

**5. The sensitivity of some important food-borne pathogens to plant** 

Food-borne diseases are one of the major public health problems worldwide, and recent reports indicate that *Listeria monocytogenes* is a major concern. *Listeria monocytogenes* can cause food intoxication, meningitis and encephalitis [6]. Control of these bacteria and its diseases are very important. So, various studies have been carried out on the effects of different essential oils and extracts on growth and

In the study of Ehsani et al. [46], the results have shown that treatments of 0.1% *Allium ascalonicum* and *Pimpinella anisum* essential oils at the end of cheese ripening period showed the highest decrease in the mean bacterial colony counts. The results of Mahmoudi et al. study have shown that *Cuminum cyminum L.* essential oil on *Listeria monocytogenes* has effects at different concentrations [8]. These results, as well as the results from other studies, have shown that essential oils and plant

*Salmonella typhimurium* is a pathogenic food-borne bacterium. *Salmonella* is widespread worldwide and found sporadically in water, soil, animal food, meat,

extracts could help the control of the bacteria in the food industry.

**6**

*Staphylococcus aureus* is one of the most important pathogenic food-borne bacteria. These bacteria can cause diarrhoea and vomiting intoxication [5]. Due to the importance of these bacteria and its toxicity, as well as due to the health hazards of chemical preservatives, researchers have used various essential oils and herbs to control these bacteria in their experiments [6].

In the result of one study, essential oil of *Mentha longifolia L.* with a concentration of 150 ppm has an inhibitory effect against *Staphylococcus aureus* [6]. In a study, 21 essential oils were used for antibacterial effects. As a result, the essential oils of *Corydothymus capitatus*, *Cinnamomum cassia*, *Origanum heracleoticum*, *Satureja montana* and *Cinnamomum verum* were effective against *Staphylococcus aureus* [50, 51].

Today, the importance of biofilm formation in the food industry is also high, so studies have also been carried out and are expanding. In these studies, vegetable oils are used to prevent and eliminate biofilms. For example, the compounds in essential oils such as SAB, C3 and C4 are highly effective against biofilms created by *Staphylococcus aureus* [52].
