article · Revista Argentina de Microbiología
Microbial contamination on eggshells is an ongoing global problem, driving interest in plant-derived alternatives to chemical disinfectants. Extracts derived from oak galls, known as Quercus infectoria, possess high concentrations of phenolic and flavonoid compounds that provide strong antimicrobial properties. In laboratory assessments, Quercus infectoria extract demonstrated activity against various pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Candida albicans. When applied as an eggshell disinfectant via immersion in a 1% solution, the extract substantially reduced total microbial colony counts, Enterobacteriaceae, and yeasts and moulds. In addition, immersion for 60 minutes completely inhibited Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Microscopic examination confirmed that the extract altered cell morphology and completely lysed Staphylococcus aureus cells after six hours of exposure, supporting its potential use as a natural egg decontaminant.
Bacterial contamination on eggshells presents severe food safety risks and drives reliance on synthetic chemical sanitisers. Finding botanical extracts that effectively eliminate foodborne pathogens offers an alternative method for cleaning eggs. This can reduce microbial contamination during processing while avoiding synthetic residues, thereby supporting consumer safety and addressing the demand for natural alternatives in food production.
The extract could serve as a natural sanitising rinse for egg processors, hatcheries, and poultry producers looking to replace synthetic antimicrobials. The work represents applied research tested at the laboratory scale using whole eggshell immersion. Further development toward commercial use would require scaling extract production, testing formulation stability, and evaluating performance within existing high-throughput commercial egg washing equipment.
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Egg contamination with microbial pathogens is an enduring worldwide concern. Natural products are frequently recommended as ideal alternatives to substitute synthetic and chemical antimicrobials. Oak galls (Quercus infectoria) are aberrant growths on oak trees that have many medicinal and pharmaceutical applications. Q. infectoria extract (QIE) antimicrobial action was assessed against many microbial species, and used for eggshell decontamination. QIE antimicrobial activity was evidenced against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella Typhimurium and Candida albicans, using different assay methods. Disinfection of eggshell microbial contamination, by immersion in 1% QIE solution, sharply reduced total colony count, yeasts and molds, Enterobacteriaceae. E. coli and S. aureus were completely inhibited after 60min of immersion in QIE. QIE biochemical analysis revealed elevated contents of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. The captured micrographs of S. aureus cells treated with QIE showed strong alterations in cell morphology; cells were entirely lysed and ruptured after 6h of treatment. QIE can be recommended as an effective and natural disinfectant for decontaminating eggshells from pathogenic microorganisms.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.ram.2017.12.003
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