Background and Objectives: Listeria monocytogenes is an emerging foodborne pathogen which may be transmitted through meat and dairy products to humans. In this study, effects of Cuminum cyminum essential oil (CCEO) and Biarum carduchcorum water extract (BCWE) and a combination of the two compounds on growth of L. monocytogenes and physicochemical, textural and sensory properties of lambs were investigated during cold storage.
Materials and Methods: Effects of CCEO and BCWE on L. monocytogenes were investigated after a short time of cold storage using broth microdilution assay. Furthermore, physicochemical assessments of the lamb samples were carried out, including meat quality index (pH, color, texture) and sensory analysis. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (CG-MS) was used for the chemical analysis.
Results: The GC-MS analysis showed that γ-terpinene (%12.57), β-pinene (%11.03), geranyl acetate (%10.81), p-cymene (%9.95) and sabinene (%9.81) were the major components of the CCEO. Use of CCEO or BCWE alone decreased L. monocytogenes count to below 2 log CFU/g. Moreover, use of combined CCEO and BCWE decreased the number of L. monocytogenes to below the limit (2 log CFU/g) after 48 h.
Conclusions: Results of the physicochemical parameters of the highlighted compounds revealed their useful values since these compounds showed improvement effects with no significant changes in meat quality. However, the firmness and force necessary to cut the samples treated with CCEO decreased mildly after 72 h of storage.