Antimicrobial effects of garlic extract against pathogenic bacteria

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) has long history of reputed value and actual use for its medicinal, antimicrobial and pesticidal properties. This study was conducted to find possible developments to natural food preservatives and natural antimicrobials from garlic extracts. The antimicrobial activities of raw garlic extract, heat, pH, temperature against pathogenic bacteria were investigated. E. coli, S. Enteritidis, L. monocytogenes, and S. aureus exhibited antimicrobial activities at 20% garlic extract, but no antimicrobial activity was seen in E. faecium. Raw garlic extract and garlic extract heated for 2 min at $95^{\circ}C$ showed strong antimicrobial activities, but the antimicrobial activity of garlic extract heated for 10 min at $95^{\circ}C$ was much less. The antimicrobial activities of 50% garlic extract adjusted pH 4.0~7.0 showed much the same, but the antimicrobial activities decreased at pH 8.0 or higher. The antimicrobial activities by storage $-18^{\circ}C$ of garlic extract showed much the same. When five strains were cultured for 72 hr at $35^{\circ}C$ in the TSB containing 1~10% garlic extract, viable cell number of five strains were decreased to $10^0{\sim}10^4$ CFU/ml even at 1% or 2.5% (E. faecium) after 24 hr, but later increased to $10^4{\sim}10^9$ CFU/ml after 72 hr. When five strains were cultured for 21 day at $4^{\circ}C$ in the TSB containing 1%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10% garlic extract, viable cell number of E. coli, S. Enteritidis, and S. aureus were decreased to $10^3$ , $10^0{\sim}10^2$ , $10^1{\sim}10^4$ CFU/ml after 21 day, respectively, but L. monocytogenes and E. faecium increased to $10^8$ and $10^6$ CFU/ml after 21 day.