Abstract:
The efcacy of γ-rays is known as a method for decontamination of food, herbs and spices. In the present study, clove buds
(CB) were irradiated at 10 kGy by 60Co irradiator. Essential oils (EOs) recovered from un-irradiated CB and irradiated (ICB)
were evaluated for their chemical composition by GC–MS, antioxidant, antibioflm and antibacterial activity. The minimum
inhibitory concentration (MIC) and growth curves against four tested multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens; S.
aureus, B. cereus, E. coli and K. pneumoniae were also evaluated. The liberation of cellular contents, as well as the altera-
tions in cell membrane permeability, together with ultrastructural changes in the pathogen morphology, have been evaluated
utilizing spectrophotometer, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray fuorescence spectrometry
(EDXFS). Results revealed that EOs recovered from ICB leads to a rise in the phenolic and favonoid contents by 3.82 and
3.44 mg/g of oil, respectively. Antioxidant potency was elevated by 6.63% for ICB recovered EOs compared to EOs from
CB. Antibioflm and antibacterial activities were improved against all tested MDR pathogens accompanied by decline in
their cell growth. The MIC of EOs recovered from ICB raised up the release of bacterial intracellular proteins and DNA/
RNA contents signifcantly (p<0.05) in time dependent manner. The leakage of bacterial contents had been supported by
the increase in the release of C, O, N, P, Mg with presence of new elements (Ca and S) in S. aureus treated with MIC of EOs
recovered from ICB. Moreover, cell wall/membrane damages and shrinkage in S. aureus cells was clearly observed in SEM
images. This study concluded that γ-rays at dose 10 kGy has a signifcant potential to stimulate antioxidant, antibioflm and
antibacterial potency of EOs recovered from CB due to increase in phenolic and favonoid contents. This could improve
the uses of EOs recovered from ICB will support the eforts to fnd a natural and more potent antioxidant, antibioflm, and
antibacterial against MDR pathogens, which is useful in food and pharmaceutical industries.
