INHIBITION OF LISTERIA-MONOCYTOGENES AND SALMONELLA-ENTERIDITIS BY COMBINATIONS OF PLANT OILS AND DERIVATIVES OF BENZOIC-ACID - THE DEVELOPMENT OF SYNERGISTIC ANTIMICROBIAL COMBINATIONS

This study describes inhibitory properties of combinations of oil of f ennel, oil of anise or oil of basil with either benzoic acid or methyl -paraben against Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enteriditis. Mi cro-organisms were cultured at 37 degrees C in broth and viable counts measured over a 48-h period. S. enteriditis was particularly sensitiv e to inhibition by a combination of oil of anise, fennel or basil with methyl-paraben where there was < 10 CFU/ml after 1 h. L. monocytogene s was less sensitive to inhibition by each combination however there w as a significant reduction in growth of 4-8 log by combinations of all oils and methyl-paraben at 8, 24 and 48 h. Synergistic inhibition by one or more combinations was evident against each micro-organism. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.