Inhibition of Arcobacter butzleri, Arcobacter cryaerophilus, and Arcobacter skirrowii by plant oil aromatics

The inhibitory effect of some plant oil aromatics against three strains of Arcobacter butzleri, two strains of Arcobacter cryaerophilus, and one strain of Arcobacter skirrowii was evaluated. When MICs were determined using the broth macrodilution method, cinnamaldehyde was most inhibitory followed by thymol, carvacrol, caffeic acid, tannic acid, and eugenol (P < 0.001). Sublethal concentrations of the three most potent plant oil aromatics also were examined. Overall, cinnamaldehyde was the most bacteriostatic against all arcobacters tested except A. butzleri when these strains were exposed to the MIC25 of this aromatic aldehyde. The bacteriostatic activities of thymol and carvacrol were concentration and species dependent.