Antibacterial and antibiofilm effects of garlic (Allium sativum), ginger (Zingiber officinale) and mint (Mentha piperta) on Escherichia coli biofilms

Biofilms are a significant concern in the food industry because of their potential to enhance bacterial survival and cause foodborne outbreaks. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is among the leading pathogens responsible for foodborne outbreaks and this can be attributed to its ability to form biofilms in food containers and food preparatory surfaces. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of garlic, ginger and mint and their potential to inhibit E.coli and biofilm formation. Disc diffusion assays and 96-well plate crystal violet-based methods were used to achieve these objectives. The plant extracts were diluted from 1 mg/ml to 0.1 mg/ml and incubated 25°C and 37°C to investigate the antimicrobial and antibiofilm effects on E. coli. The findings of this study showed that low temperatures induced the formation of E. coli biofilms and all tested extracts contain a broad spectrum of antibacterial and antibiofilm properties. This study provided new insights on the combined antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of garlic, ginger and mint against planktonic cells and biofilms of E. coli MG 1655 and highlight the potential use of these extracts in the food industry to prevent biofilm formation by E. coli.