Revista Mexicana de Fitopatología ISSN: 0185-3309 [email protected] Sociedad Mexicana de Fitopatología, A.C. México Acero Ortega, Claudia; Dorantes Alvarez, Lidia; Jaramillo Flores, María Eugenia; Hernández Sánchez, Humberto; López Malo, Aurelio Effect of Chili (Capsicum annuum L.) Extracts and Derived Compounds on Growth of Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora (Jones) Bergey, Harrison, Breed, Hammer and Huntoon Revista Mexicana de Fitopatología, vol. 21, núm. 2, julio-diciembre, 2003, pp. 233-237 Sociedad Mexicana de Fitopatología, A.C. Texcoco, México Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=61221220 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative Revista Mexicana de FITOPATOLOGIA/ 233 Effect of Chili (Capsicum annuum L.) Extracts and Derived Compounds on Growth of Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora (Jones) Bergey, Harrison, Breed, Hammer and Huntoon Claudia Acero-Ortega, Lidia Dorantes-Alvarez, María Eugenia Jaramillo-Flores, Humberto Hernández-Sánchez, Depto. de Graduados e Investigación en Alimentos, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Carpio y Plan de Ayala, México, D.F., México CP 11340; and Aurelio López-Malo, Depto. de Ingeniería Química, Alimentos y Ambiental, Universidad de las Américas, Sta. Catarina Mártir, Cholula, Puebla, México CP 72820. Correspondencia: [email protected] (Received: December 19, 2002 Accepted: January 29, 2003) Acero-Ortega, C., Dorantes-Alvarez, L., Jaramillo-Flores, Orto-cumárico, ácido Meta-cumárico, ácido Trans-cinámico, M.E., Hernández-Sánchez, H., and López-Malo, A. 2003. Capsaicina, Dihidrocapsaicina. Effect of chili (Capsicum annuum L.) extracts and derived compounds on growth of Erwinia carotovora subsp. Erwinia carotovora is a soil bacterium that affects vegetables, carotovora (Jones) Bergey, Harrison, Breed, Hammer and such as carrots [Daucus carota subsp. sativus (Hoffm.) Huntoon. Revista Mexicana de Fitopatología 21:233-237. Arcang.], potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.), cucumbers Abstract. Extracts from Habanero, Serrano and bell pepper (Cucumis sativus L.), onions (Allium cepa L.), tomatoes (Capsicum annuum) varieties were evaluated for its natural (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), antimicrobial compounds on growth of the phytopathogenic and green peppers (Capsicum annuum L.). Crops can be bacterium Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora. Bacterial infected in the field as well as during storage. Affected tissues suspensions were prepared and inoculated into culture media become soft and watery, turning slimy and foul-smelling. This on which sterile filter paper discs saturated with the extract disease known as bacterial soft rot is caused by E. c. subsp. were placed. Growth of the microorganism was inhibited by atroseptica (van Hall) Dye, and E. carotovora subsp. extracts from the three varieties and by some of the carotovora Jones (Bergey et al., 1923). However, the latter compounds found in the extracts, like meta-coumaric and is more common and has a wide host range. Although Erwinia trans-cinnamic acids. Capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin did not carotovora is usually present on the surface of fruits or tubers, affect the growth of the bacterium. they require a wound to invade the interior (Kaláb, 2002). Germination of contaminated seeds is reduced and seedlings Additional keywords. Antimicrobial effect, Ortho-coumaric can easily be infected (Tegene and Korobko, 1985). It is acid, Meta-coumaric acid, Trans-cinnamic acid, Capsaicin, important to develop disease management strategies for soft Dihydrocapsaicin. rot. Currently, it is recommended: a) the use of high quality, pathogen-free seeds or tubers (for potatoes), b) to avoid Resumen. Se evaluaron extractos de los chiles (Capsicum mechanical injury, c) to avoid over-irrigation, and d) the use annuum) habanero, serrano y pimiento por el efecto de sus of proper postharvest storage conditions. Genetic engineering compuestos antimicrobianos naturales en el crecimiento de has been tested in potatoes for control of soft rot by attaching la bacteria fitopatógena Erwinia carotovora subsp. the promoter portion of the ubiquitin7 gene to an anti-rot carotovora. Se prepararon e inocularon las suspensiones gene effective, when tubers are damaged; this method has bacterianas en medios de cultivo en los que se colocaron been 85 to 96% effective (Wood, 1998). Although chemical discos de papel filtro estériles saturados con los extractos. control is not usually recommended, the post-plant application Los extractos de las tres variedades de chile y algunos de sus of some copper-based compounds was effective in reducing constituyentes como los ácidos meta-cumárico y trans- soft rot; however, these compounds also reduce the overall cinámico inhibieron el crecimiento del microorganismo. La plant growth (Gracia-Garza et al., 2002). Over the years, capsaicina y la dihidrocapsaicina no afectaron el crecimiento antimicrobial properties of substances of natural origin have de la bacteria. been recognized, including those derived from animals, plants, and microorganisms. It is known that spices and Palabras clave adicionales. Efecto antimicrobiano, ácido aromatic herbs have different properties, in addition to those 234 / Volumen 21, Número 2, 2003 for which they are grown. Furthermore, due to their in Trypticase Soy Broth (Dibico, Mexico, DF) and grown to bacteriostatic, bactericidal, and fungicidal properties, certain a concentration of 6 x 108 bacteria/ml at 28ºC (around 24 h) species increase the useful life of foods, and some even to be used as inoculum in the inhibition tests. prevent food spoilage by their antioxidant activity (Shelef et Inhibition tests with the extracts. Chili extracts were al., 1980). Antimicrobial components in plants are frequently evaluated in their ability to inhibit growth of E. c. subsp. found in essential oil fractions (Deans and Ritchie, 1987; Jay carotovora. The procedure was carried out using the standard and Rivers, 1984; Morris et al., 1979). Various plant zone inhibition test on Trypticase Soy Agar (Dibico, México, compounds have been found to exert a large spectrum of DF) as described by Conner and Beuchat (1984). Petri dishes antimicrobial effects, including thymol from thyme and were inoculated with 0.1 ml of inoculum prepared as already oregano, and cinnamic aldehyde, and eugenol from cinnamon described. The inoculum was spread uniformly over the and clove, respectively (Beuchat and Golden, 1989). Vanillin, culture medium using a sterile cell spreader. Next, 0.6 cm the main component of vanilla, is structurally similar to sterile filter paper discs were soaked individually with 20 ml eugenol and has shown to inhibit the growth of molds and of each of the three chili extracts (Morris et al., 1979). Extracts yeasts (López-Malo et al., 1995, 1997). Many of the were allowed to absorb completely before placing the discs compounds mentioned are related to capsaicin, the flavor and in the center of each inoculated Petri dish (one disc per plate). pungent principle in hot peppers, which are present in different All tests were repeated in triplicates. A control was included concentrations. They are also called capsaicinoids and are in which a filter paper disc soaked with 20 ml of isopropanol synthesized by the phenylpropanoid pathway (Dorantes et was used to see whether or not the alcohol in the extract al., 2000). Also, Kim and Ryeom (1979) reported antibacterial contributed to the inhibitory effect. Plates were incubated at effects of capsaicin from Korean hot pepper. The majority of 28ºC for 24 h, and the inhibition zone was measured with a studies on the antimicrobial activity of spices and their vernier (Morris et al., 1979). essential oils have been carried out with food-borne Inhibition tests using individual components of extracts. microorganisms. Few reports have been published on After testing the effect of each extract on the microorganism, antimicrobial compounds against Erwinia. Thyme essential another test was performed using the individual compounds oil has been reported to be an excellent antimicrobial agent previously identified by Dorantes et al. (2000) by HPLC in against E. carotovora and E. amylovora (Horváth et al., each extract (Table 1). Tests were carried out as described 2002); the essential oil of Rosa damascene has an effective before, but the filter paper discs were impregnated with 20 antibacterial activity against E. amylovora (Basim and Basim, ml of each individual compound (purchased from Sigma 2000); and the aqueous extracts of onion, garlic, and leek Chemical Company, St. Louis, USA) at a concentration equal were good antibacterials against E. carotovora subsp. to the one present in each extract. carotovora (Lirio et al., 1998). The objective of this study Inhibition tests using extract combinations. Two or more was to evaluate the effect of extracts from three varieties of of the identified compounds were combined to carry out chili (Capsicum sp.), their derived compounds, and the inhibition tests, to be able to establish if any of the combinations of some of these compounds on Erwinia combinations showed synergistic, antagonist, or additive carotovora subsp. carotovora. effects. Combinations included only compounds that Samples and extraction protocol. Chilies