Composition of Methanol Extract from Hwangryeon (Coptidis rhizoma) and Antimicrobial Activity against Food Spoilage and Foodborne Disease Microorganisms

Hwangryeon (Coptidis rhizoma) was extracted by methanol and its antimicrobial activities against food spoilage and foodborne disease microorganisms were investigated by the paper-disc method. The microorganisms used in this experiment included 5 species of bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus) and 3 species of fungi (Fusarium solani, Aspergillus flavus, and Penicillium citreonigrum). The Hwangryeon extract showed antimicrobial effect against P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, S. typhimurium, and K. pneumonia. The minimum inhibitory concentration on S. aureus, S. typhimurium, and K. pneumoniae was 300 mg/mL, but on P. aeruginosa it was 200 mg/mL. In the methanol extracts from Hwangryeon, 190 compounds were separated by GC/MS. The extraction yields of phenols, furans, alcohols, acids and esters, ketones, and miscellaneous compounds were 28.10%, 2.67%, 1.79%, 12.89%, and 2.35%, respectively. The phenolic compounds, generally understood to be an antimicrobial active substance, was measured at 28.10%, a relatively remarkable amount.