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Natural Antimicrobial Compounds as Promising Preservatives: A Look at an Old Problem from New Perspectives

Summary

This review examines natural alternatives to synthetic food preservatives, which are increasingly recognized as potentially harmful. Natural antimicrobial compounds from plants, fungi, and other sources can effectively prevent food spoilage and bacterial contamination. New technologies using light and ultrasound can enhance these natural compounds’ effectiveness. While promising, these natural preservatives need more research and regulatory approval before widespread industrial use.

Background

Approximately 1.3 billion tons of food products are lost annually due to spoilage and decay caused by pathogenic microorganisms. Conventional synthetic food preservatives such as sodium benzoate and parabens have documented adverse health effects including hormonal disruption, oxidative stress, and immunological disorders. Natural antimicrobial compounds derived from plants, animals, microorganisms, algae, and mushrooms offer promising alternatives with potentially lower toxicity profiles.

Objective

This review aims to critically evaluate antimicrobial compounds of natural origin, their mechanisms of action, and emerging technologies including antimicrobial photodynamic therapy and ultrasound-based disinfection methods. The objective is to assess the potential of natural preservatives for pharmaceutical, agricultural, and food industry applications.

Results

Plant extracts, chitosan, bioactive peptides, and essential oils demonstrate strong antimicrobial capabilities against bacteria, yeast, and fungi. Over 8000 polyphenolic structures and other natural compounds exhibit antimicrobial properties through diverse mechanisms including membrane disruption, ROS generation, and biofilm inhibition. Natural photosensitizers and sonosensitizers activated by light or ultrasound show promising applications, with some compounds demonstrating synergistic effects when combined with conventional antibiotics.

Conclusion

Natural antimicrobial compounds represent viable alternatives to synthetic preservatives due to their antimicrobial efficacy, low toxicity, and multiple health benefits. However, widespread industrial adoption requires standardization, optimization of extraction methods, comprehensive safety evaluations, and regulatory approval. Future research should focus on understanding mechanisms of action, optimal concentrations, and synergistic combinations of natural antimicrobials.
  • Published in:Molecules,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 39769919, DOI: 10.3390/molecules29245830
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