Antimicrobial Effects against Food-Borne Pathogens and Antioxidant Activity of Rhododendron brachycarpum Extract

This study was performed to investigate the antimicrobial effects against food-borne pathogens and antioxidant activity of Rhododendron brachycarpum ethanol-extract. The antimicrobial activity of the extract was determined using a paper disc-diffusion method, and the diameter of the clear zone was measured. The diameter of the clear zone in the presence of 10 mg of extract was maximal against Bacillus cereus among the three tested Gram-positive bacteria and against Escherichia coli O157:H7 among the five tested Gram-negative bacteria. Analysis of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) showed that the extract exhibited a similar efficacy as that of sorbic acid, a well-known chemical preservative. The growth inhibitory effects of the extract at concentrations of 250, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/L on food-borne pathogens were determined against Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Escherichia coli O157:H7. Growth of the microorganisms was not affected by the extract at concentrations up to 250 mg/L, but it was significantly (p<0.05) inhibited by the extract at concentrations higher than 1,000 mg/L. The antioxidant effects of the extract were examined via measurement of DPPH radical scavenging activity, inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation using fluorescent dichlorofluorescien (DCF) assay, and prevention of peroxyl radical- and hydroxyl radical-induced supercoiled DNA breakage. The $IC_{50}$ of the extract for DPPH radical scavenging activity was about half that of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol, which was used as a positive control. DCF fluorescence intensity decreased as the concentration of the extract increased, demonstrating that ROS generation was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner. The ROS inhibitory effect of the extract was higher than that of ascorbic acid. The extract prevented supercoiled DNA strand breakage induced by peroxyl radical and hydroxyl radical. Thus, the results of the present study demonstrate that the extract exhibits antimicrobial effects against food-borne pathogens as well as potent antioxidant capacity, suggesting that R. brachycarpum could be used as a natural antibacterial agent and effective antioxidant in food.

만병초 추출물의 식중독 유발균에 대한 항균효과 및 항산화활성

본 연구는 만병초 에탄올추출물의 식중독 유발균에 대한 항균효과 및 항산화 활성을 조사하였다. 추출물의 항균활성은 paper disc 방법으로 조사하였다. 추출물을 10 mg/disc 점적한 후 저해환의 크기를 측정한 결과, 그람양성 3균주 중에서 Bacillus cereus에 대해, 그리고 그람음성 5균주 중에서 Escherichia coli O157:H7에 대한 항균활성이 가장 좋았다. 최소 억제 농도(MIC)는 현재 합성보존료로 이용되고 있는 sorbic acid와 비슷하게 나타났다. 또한, 만병초 추출물이 식중독 유발균의 성장에 미치는 효과를 검정하기 위해 Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Typhimurium과 Escherichia coli O157:H7의 배양액에 250, 500, 1,000 및 2,000 mg/L 농도로 첨가하여 생육을 조사한 결과, 배양시간 별로 250 mg/L 농도까지는 대조군과 차이가 없었으나, 1,000 mg/L 이상의 농도에서는 균의 증식이 억제되었다. 만병초 추출물의 항산화 효능을 조사하기 위해 DPPH 라디칼 소거활성, ROS 생성 억제 및 supercoiled DNA strand 절단 억제효과를 측정하였다. Pyrogallol의 억제율을 100%로 기준하였을 때, DPPH 라디칼을 50% 억제시키는데 필요한 만병초 추출물의 농도는 양성대조군인 ${\alpha}$-tocopherol의 약 절반으로 나타났다. 추출물의 농도가 증가할수록 DCF 형광도는 감소하여 ROS 생성이 농도 의존적으로 억제되고 있음을 알 수 있었다. 추출물의 ROS 생성 억제효과는 양성 대조군인 아스코르빈산에 비해 높게 나타났다. 또한, 만병초 추출물은 peroxyl radical 및 hydroxyl radical로 유발된 supercoiled DNA strand 절단을 억제시켰다. 따라서 본 연구결과는 만병초 추출물이 식중독 유발균에 대하여 우수한 항균작용과 항산화능을 나타내어 만병초가 효과적인 천연보존료 및 항산화제로서 이용될 수 있음을 시사하고 있다.