Antimicrobial effect of lauroyl arginate ethyl on Listeria monocytogenes and its application in controlling microbial contamination of enoki mushrooms (Flammulina velutipes).

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Citation abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity and antimicrobial mechanisms of lauroyl arginate ethyl (LAE) against Listeria monocytogenes and its practical application in controlling microbial growth on enoki mushrooms. LAE showed strong antimicrobial activity against L. monocytogenes. LAE increased cell membrane permeability and induced depolarization by altering membrane potential, leading to leakage of intracellular proteins and nucleic acids. After exposure to LAE, intracellular ATP content and ATPase activity in L. monocytogenes were decreased, suggesting that LAE affects cellular energy metabolism. The levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde were significantly increased, indicating the generation of cellular oxidative stress by LAE. The results of scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed that LAE treatment altered cell morphology and disrupted cell integrity. When applied to enoki mushrooms, LAE significantly reduced L. monocytogenes and aerobic bacterial counts on the samples and maintained the inhibitory effect during the 6-day storage at 4 °C. These findings demonstrate that LAE has promising application potential in controlling microbial contamination of enoki mushrooms as a safe and efficient antimicrobial agent.