Biological Properties and Cell Toxicity of Hydroalcoholic Herbal Extracts Targeting Zoonotic Bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp.

Mojgani, Naheed; Montazer, Mohammad Reza Hosseini; Bagheri, Fatemeh; Sanjabi, Mohammadreza; Saremnejad, Solmaz

doi:10.22092/ari.2026.372121.4035

Biological Properties and Cell Toxicity of Hydroalcoholic Herbal Extracts Targeting Zoonotic Bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp.

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

¹ موسسه رازی

² Department of Food Science and Technology, TeMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

³ Department of Microbiology, TeMS.C. Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

⁴ Department of Agriculture,, Iranian Research Organization for Science & Technology (IROST), Tehran, Iran

⁵ Department of Food Science and Technology, TeMS.C., , Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

10.22092/ari.2026.372121.4035

Abstract

Introduction: The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among bacterial pathogens has intensified the search for safe and effective alternatives to conventional antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity, safety, and bioactive potential of selected natural herbal extracts against several foodborne pathogens, highlighting their potential as alternative or complementary strategies to conventional antibiotics.
Materials and Methods: Hydroalcoholic extracts of selected medicinal plants were screened for antibacterial activity against S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes using agar well diffusion, followed by determination of their MIC and MBCs and Time–kill kinetics. Antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH assay, while total phenolic and flavonoid contents were quantified by standard methods. Phytochemical profiles were analyzed by HPLC. In vitro cytocompatibility was evaluated using the MTT assay on Caco-2 human intestinal epithelial cells.
Results: Persian shallot (Allium hirtifolium), thyme (Thymus spp.), and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against both Salmonella spp.. Persian shallot showed rapid bactericidal action, achieving >4 log CFU/mL reduction of S. Enteritidis within 24 h. Rosemary demonstrated the strongest antioxidant capacity (>90% DPPH scavenging). The extracts showed limited cytotoxicity on CaCo-2 cell lines and maintained acceptable cytocompatibility.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that selected herbal extracts can be considered potential natural antibacterial agents with acceptable safety profiles, supporting their possible use as alternative or adjunct antimicrobial strategies in human and animal disease control.

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