Combining eugenol and cinnamaldehyde to control the growth of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris

This paper proposes the use of a combination of cinnamaldehyde and eugenol to control spore germination of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris. In the 1st phase a three variables-five levels Central Composite Design was used to study the individual and additive effects of cinnamaldehyde (0-80 ppm), eugenol (0-160 ppm) and pH (3.5-5.5). The assays were carried out in a laboratory medium (Malt Extract Broth). Cinnamaldehyde appeared as the most effective antimicrobial; otherwise, eugenol acted as a strengthening element and allowed a reduction of cinnamaldehyde amount in the system. Then, the experiments were performed in a commercial apple juice, thus highlighting that spore germination could be inhibited through the use of 80 ppm of eugenol and 40 ppm of cinnamaldehyde or alternatively through the combination of 40 ppm of eugenol with 20 ppm of cinnamaldehyde.