Composition and Antibacterial Activity of Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliot, Cornus mas L. and Chaenomeles superba Lindl. Leaf Extracts

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the composition of leaf extracts from <i>Aronia melanocarpa</i>, <i>Chaenomeles superba</i>, and <i>Cornus mas</i>, and their antimicrobial activity against typical spoilage-causing and pathogenic bacteria found in meat and meat products. The highest total phenolic content (TPC) was detected in <i>C. superba</i> extract, followed by <i>C. mas</i> and <i>A. melanocarpa</i> extracts. The antioxidant capacity of the extracts was measured by DPPH and ABTS assays. The lowest IC₅₀ values were found for <i>C. superba</i> extract, followed by <i>C. mas</i> and <i>A. melanocarpa</i> extracts. LC-MS and HPLC analysis revealed that <i>A. melanocarpa</i> and <i>C. superba</i> extracts contained hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and flavonoids (mainly flavonols). Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were detected in the <i>C. mas</i> extract, as well as flavonols, ellagitannins, and iridoids. The antibacterial activity of the plant extracts was tested against Gram-negative bacteria (<i>Moraxella osloensis</i>, <i>Pseudomonas fragi</i>, <i>Acinetobacter baumanii</i>, <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Enterobacter aerogenes</i>, <i>Salmonella enterica</i>) and Gram-positive bacteria (<i>Enterococcus faecium</i>, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, <i>Brochothrix thermosphacta</i>, <i>Lactobacillus sakei</i>, <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>) using the microculture method. The extracts acted as bacteriostatic agents, decreasing the growth rate (µ_max) and extending the lag phase (t_lag). <i>C. mas</i> showed most potent antibacterial activity, as confirmed by principal component analysis (PCA).