International Journal of Molecular Sciences (Feb 2022)

Exploitation of the Antibacterial Properties of Photoactivated Curcumin as ‘Green’ Tool for Food Preservation

  • Zunaira Munir,
  • Giuliana Banche,
  • Lorenza Cavallo,
  • Narcisa Mandras,
  • Janira Roana,
  • Raffaele Pertusio,
  • Eleonora Ficiarà,
  • Roberta Cavalli,
  • Caterina Guiot

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23052600
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 23, no. 5
p. 2600

Abstract

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In the search for non-chemical and green methods to counteract the bacterial contamination of foods, the use of natural substances with antimicrobial properties and light irradiation at proper light waves has been extensively investigated. In particular, the combination of both techniques, called photodynamic inactivation (PDI), is based on the fact that some natural substances act as photosensitizers, i.e., produce bioactive effects under irradiation. Notably, curcumin is a potent natural antibacterial and effective photosensitizer that is able to induce photodynamic activation in the visible light range (specifically for blue light). Some practical applications have been investigated with particular reference to food preservation from bacterial contaminants.

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