Antimicrobial activity of Thymbra spicata L. essential oil in Turkish dry fermented sausages

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Abstract
Essential oils (EO) could address the need for alternative additives for food producers to maintain safety and quality of meat products. The aim of this study was to evaluate antimicrobial activity of Thymbra spicata L. subsb. spicata EO on Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium in Turkish dry fermented sausage (sucuk). Antimicrobial activity of EO, obtained from the collected plant, has been demonstrated in vitro and in sucuk matrices against selected foodborne pathogens. In the composition of the essential oil obtained in the study, total of 47 components (99.41%) were assayed including mainly carvacrol (43.6%), ɣ-terpinene (16.69%) and p-cymen (13.97%). Thymbra spicata L. observed to have antimicrobial effect on the related pathogens in vitro however, increased amount of EO use, to be antimicrobiologically effective in sucuk, negatively affected the organoleptic properties. It is concluded that natural additives could potentially be used as an alternative to chemicals in food technology to prevent foodborne diseases and to extend the shelf life of products. Further studies are needed to evaluate the combined and synergetic effects of different EOs and other preservation methods to cope with foodborne pathogens in the food matrices.

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