Bactericidal Activity of Lemon Juice and Lemon Derivatives against Vibrio Cholerae

• Published in: Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin Vol. 23; no. 10; pp. 1235 - 1238
• Main Authors: CASTILLO, Marta Cecilia DE, ALLORI, Cristina Gaudioso DE, GUTIERREZ, Rosa Cangemi DE, SAAB, Olga Aulet DE, FERNANDEZ, Norma Porcel DE, RUIZ, Clara Silva DE, Aida Pece DE RUIZ HOLGADO, NADER, Olga Miguel DE
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan 01.10.2000; Maruzen; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; bactericide; bacteriostatic; Biological and medical sciences; Citrus - chemistry; Colony Count, Microbial; Culture Media; General pharmacology; lemon product; Medical sciences; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Time Factors; Vibrio cholerae; Vibrio cholerae - drug effects; Dilution; Pharmacognosy; Vibrio cholerae; Bacteria; Vibrionaceae; Essential oil; Antibacterial agent; Lemon; Fruit juice; Biological activity; Bactericidal effect; Dose activity relation
• ISSN: 0918-6158; 1347-5215
• DOI: 10.1248/bpb.23.1235

Food products can be possible vectors of the agent responsible for cholera epidemics, because some of these products allow Vibrio cholerae O1 to develop to concentrations above the dangerous level. This study deals with the behaviour of essential oils, natural and concentrated lemon juice and fresh and dehydrated lemon peel against V. cholerae O1 biotype Eltor serotype Inaba tox+. Our aim was to evaluate whether these products, used at different dilutions, exhibit bactericidal or bacteriostatic activity against the microorganism, when present at concentrations of 102, 104, 106 and 108 colony forming units (CFU) ml-1, and after different exposure times. 108 CFU ml-1 was considered an infectious dose. Concentrated lemon juice and essential oils inhibited V. cholerae completely at all stuidied dilutions and exposure times. Fresh lemon peel and dehydrated lemon peel partially inhibited growth of V. cholerae. Freshly squeezed lemon juice, diluted to 10-2, showed complete inhibition of V. cholerae at a concentration of 108 CFU ml-1 after 5 min of exposure time; a dilution of 2×10-3 produced inhibition after 15 min and a dilution of 10-3 after 30 min. It can be concluded that lemon, a natural product which is easily obtained, acts as a biocide against V. cholerae, and is, therefore, an efficient decontaminant, harmless to humans.