Antimicrobial Properties of Bacterial Cellulose Films Enriched with Bioactive Herbal Extracts Obtained by Microwave-Assisted Extraction
Ioana M. Bodea,
Giorgiana M. Cătunescu,
Carmen R. Pop,
Nicodim I. Fiț,
Adriana P. David,
Mircea C. Dudescu,
Andreea Stănilă,
Ancuța M. Rotar,
Florin I. Beteg
Affiliations
Ioana M. Bodea
Department of Preclinical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Giorgiana M. Cătunescu
Department of Technical and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Carmen R. Pop
Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Nicodim I. Fiț
Department of Preclinical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Adriana P. David
Department of Technical and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Mircea C. Dudescu
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Andreea Stănilă
Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Ancuța M. Rotar
Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Florin I. Beteg
Department of Preclinical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
The use of bacterial cellulose (BC) as scaffold for active biofilms is one of the most interesting applications, especially for the biomedical and food industries. However, there are currently few studies evaluating the potential of incorporating herbal extracts into various biomaterials, including BC. Thus, the aim of this study is to report a screening of the total phenolic content and antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extracts of oregano, rosemary, parsley, and lovage. At the same time, the bioactive potential of BC enriched with the four ethanolic extracts is described. Microwave-assisted extraction was used to extract bioactive compounds from the four selected herbs. The physical, mechanical, structural, and chemical properties of BC were also assessed. Next, BC was enriched with the extracts, and their effect against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans was evaluated. The results showed that the bioactivity of the herbs varied significantly, with rosemary extract being the most bioactive. The BC films possessed good mechanical properties, and a three-dimensional network fibrillar structure appropriate for ethanolic-extract incorporation. The BC samples enriched with rosemary extracts had the highest antibacterial activity against S. aureus, while E. coli. and C. albicans seemed to be resistant to all extracts, regardless of herbs.
