Weak antimicrobial effect of carob (Ceratonia siliqua) extract against food-related bacteria in culture media and model food systems

A weak antibiotic effect of carob (Ceratonia siliqua) extract against Staphylococcus aureus S-6, St. aureus 722, and Pseudomonas fragi, was evident when the strains were screened with the paper disk assay. An intermediate inhibitory action of carob on Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enteritidis, and Brochothrix thermosphacta was found with the same technique while Shewanella putrefaciens was not inhibited. The inhibitory action of extract against St. aureus and P. fragi was also confirmed in broth culture while little effect was noted with S. enteritidis. The addition of extract to tuna and potato salad stored under aerobic and modified atmosphere packaging conditions at 4 degrees C, affected the survival of St. aureus but not that of S. enteritidis.