Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Evaluating the potential of natural product combinations with sorbic acid for improving preservative action against food-spoilage yeasts

Harvey, Harry J.; Hendry, Alex C.; Archer, David B.; Avery, Simon V.

Evaluating the potential of natural product combinations with sorbic acid for improving preservative action against food-spoilage yeasts Thumbnail


Authors

Harry J. Harvey

Alex C. Hendry

David B. Archer

SIMON AVERY SIMON.AVERY@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Eukaryotic Microbiology



Abstract

Fungal control methods commonly involve the use of antifungals or preservatives, which can raise concerns about broader effects of these stressors on non-target organisms, spread of resistance and regulatory hurdles. Consequently, control methods enabling lower usage of such stressors are highly sought, for example chemical combinations that synergistically inhibit target-organisms. Here, we investigated how well such a principle extends to improving efficacy of an existing but tightly controlled food preservative, sorbic acid. A screen of ~200 natural products for synergistic fungal inhibition in combinations with sorbic acid, in either 2% or 0.1% (w/v) glucose to simulate high or reduced-sugar foods, did not reveal reproducible synergies in either of the spoilage yeast species Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Zygosaccharomyces bailii. Potentially promising screen candidates (e.g. lactone parthenolide, ethyl maltol) or a small additional panel of rationally-selected compounds (e.g. benzoic acid) all gave Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Indices (FICI) ≥ 0.5 in combinations with sorbic acid, corroborating absence of synergy in either glucose condition (although FICI values did differ between the glucose conditions). Synergies were not achieved either in a tripartite combination with screen candidates or in a soft-drink formulation as matrix. In previous work with other stressors synergy ‘hits’ have been comparatively frequent, suggesting that sorbic acid could be unusually resistant to forming synergies with other potential inhibitors and this may relate to the weak acid’s known multifactorial inhibitory-actions on cells. The study highlights a challenge in developing appropriate natural product or other chemical combinations applicable to food and beverage preservation.

Citation

Harvey, H. J., Hendry, A. C., Archer, D. B., & Avery, S. V. (2023). Evaluating the potential of natural product combinations with sorbic acid for improving preservative action against food-spoilage yeasts. Fungal Biology, 127(7-8), 1218-1223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2023.01.004

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 17, 2023
Online Publication Date Jan 31, 2023
Publication Date 2023-07
Deposit Date Jan 19, 2023
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Fungal Biology
Print ISSN 1878-6146
Electronic ISSN 1878-6162
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 127
Issue 7-8
Pages 1218-1223
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2023.01.004
Keywords Combinatorial synergy, food spoilage, checkerboard assay, weak acid preservatives, high throughput screen
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/16226791
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878614623000041

Files




You might also like



Downloadable Citations