Thyme: A natural preservative for seafood


Submitted: 23 January 2022
Accepted: 6 February 2022
Published: 3 March 2022
Abstract Views: 522
PDF: 320
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Authors

Nowadays, food preservation for a long time without any change in quality is a global issue. Currently, 25 categories of food additives have been defined. These compounds are used to extend the shelf life of foods by protecting them against microorganisms as well as chemical reactions. Medicinal plants, having proven antimicrobial and antioxidant properties are suitable candidates for this purpose. Among them, thyme with a wide range of bioactive compounds has been extensively studied. This plant belongs to the family Lamiaceae and has a particular situation in traditional medicine. Nowadays, thyme and its derivate present a wide range of functional possibilities in the pharmacy and food industry. This article discusses thyme’s application as a food preservative in the seafood industry.


Singletary K. Thyme: history, applications, and overview of potential health benefits. Nutrition Today 2016;51:40-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/NT.0000000000000139

Aboelsoud NH. Herbal medicine in ancient Egypt. J Med Plants Res 2010;4:082-6.

Salehi B, Mishra AP, Shukla I, et al. Thymol, thyme, and other plant sources: Health and potential uses. Phytotherapy Res 2018;32:1688-706. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6109

Badi HN, Yazdani D, Ali SM, Nazari F. Effects of spacing and harvesting time on herbage yield and quality/quantity of oil in thyme, Thymus vulgaris L. Industrial crops Products 2004;19:231-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2003.10.005

Nabavi SM, Marchese A, Izadi M, et al. Plants belonging to the genus Thymus as antibacterial agents: From farm to pharmacy. Food Chem 2015;173:339-47. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.10.042

De Martino L, Bruno M, Formisano C, et al. Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils from two species of Thymus growing wild in southern Italy. Molecules 2009;14:4614-24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules14114614

Alu’datt MH, Rababah T, Alhamad MN, et al. Pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and therapeutic properties of selected wild medicinal plants: Thyme, spearmint, and rosemary. In Therapeutic, probiotic, and unconventional foods. Grumezescu A, Holban AM (eds.) Academic Press, 2018; 275-290. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-814625-5.00014-5

Asllani U, Toska V. Chemical composition of Albanian thyme oil (Thymus vulgaris L.). J Essential Oil Res 2003;15:165-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.2003.9712103

Tohidpour A, Sattari M, Omidbaigi R, et al. Antibacterial effect of essential oils from two medicinal plants against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Phytomedicine 2010;17:142-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2009.05.007

Pirali Khairabadi E, Sedigheh Mousavi S, Momtaz H, et al. Prevalence and phylogenetic analysis of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from the fillets of two farmed fish in Shahrekord in 2018. J Food Microbiol 2020;7:81-93.

Momeni H, Raissy M, Bashiri M, et al. Fish-borne parasites: A review on the reports from Iran. J Food Microbiol 2020;6:88-102.

Silva MM, Lidon F. Food preservatives–An overview on applications and side effects. Emirates J Food Agricult 2016;26:366-373. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9755/ejfa.2016-04-351

Remya S, Mohan CO, Venkateshwarlu G, et al. Combined effect of O2 scavenger and antimicrobial film on shelf life of fresh cobia (Rachycentron canadum) fish steaks stored at 2 C. Food Control 2017;71:71-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2016.05.038

Raeisi S, Quek SY, Ojagh SM, Alishahi AR. Effects of cumin (C Uminum cyminum L.) seed and wild mint (M Entha longifolia L.) leaf extracts on the shelf life and quality of rainbow trout (O Ncorhynchus mykiss) fillets stored at 4C±1. J Food Safety 2016;36:271-81. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jfs.12240

Gai F, Ortoffi M, Giancotti V, et al. Effect of red grape pomace extract on the shelf life of refrigerated rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) minced muscle. J Aquatic Food Product Technol 2015;24:468-80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10498850.2013.789094

Guran HS, Oksuztepe G, Coban OE, Incili GK. Influence of different essential oils on refrigerated fish patties produced from bonito fish (Sarda sarda Bloch, 1793). Czech J Food Sci 2015;33:37-44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17221/188/2014-CJFS

Jouki M, Yazdi FT, Mortazavi SA, Koocheki A, Khazaei N. Effect of quince seed mucilage edible films incorporated with oregano or thyme essential oil on shelf life extension of refrigerated rainbow trout fillets. Inte J Food Microbiol 2014;174:88-97. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2014.01.001

Baptista RC, Horita CN, Sant'Ana AS. Natural products with preservative properties for enhancing the microbiological safety and extending the shelf-life of seafood: A review. Food Res Int 2020;127:108762. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2019.108762

Yasin NM, Abou-Taleb M. Antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of marjoram and thyme in coated refrigerated semi fried mullet fish fillets. World J Dairy Food Sci 2007;2:1-9.

Erkan N. The effect of thyme and garlic oil on the preservation of vacuum-packaged hot smoked rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Food Bioprocess Technol 2012;5:1246-54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11947-010-0412-7

Yang F, Hu S, Lu Y, et al. Effects of coatings of polyethyleneimine and thyme essential oil combined with CChitosan on sliced fresh C hanna argus during refrigerated storage. J Food Process Engin 2015;38:225-33. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jfpe.12155

Altunatmaz SS, Issa G, Aydin A. Detection of airborne psychrotrophic bacteria and fungi in food storage refrigerators. Brazilian J Microbiol 2012;43:1436-43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1517-83822012000400027

Nzeako BC, Al-Kharousi ZS, Al-Mahrooqui Z. Antimicrobial activities of clove and thyme extracts. Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J 2006;6:33.

Guarda A, Rubilar JF, Miltz J, Galotto MJ. The antimicrobial activity of microencapsulated thymol and carvacrol. Inte J Food Microbiol 2011;146:144-50. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2011.02.011

Figiel A, Szumny A, Gutiérrez-Ortíz A, Carbonell-Barrachina ÁA. Composition of oregano essential oil (Origanum vulgare) as affected by drying method. J Food Engin 2010;98:240-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2010.01.002

Zheng ZL, Tan JY, Liu HY, et al. Evaluation of oregano essential oil (Origanum heracleoticum L.) on growth, antioxidant effect and resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Aquaculture 2009;292:214-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2009.04.025

Menanteau‐Ledouble S, El‐Matbouli M. Antigens of Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida specifically induced in vivo in Oncorhynchus mykiss. J Fish Dis 2016;39:1015. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jfd.12430

Raissy, M., Seyed Hasani, A. and Yousefi, S., 2021. Effects of Echinacea on fish growth and health: A review. J Medicinal Herbs 2021;12:13-26.

Momeni shahraki M, Sharafati Chaleshtori R, Raissy M, et al. Study of composition and antimicrobial effects of Thymus carmanicus, Zataria multiflora, Rosmarinus Officinalis and Cinnamomum verum essential oils on Aeromonas hydrophila. J Food Microbiol 2021;8:80-90.

Magi G, Marini E, Facinelli B. Antimicrobial activity of essential oils and carvacrol, and synergy of carvacrol and erythromycin, against clinical, erythromycin-resistant Group A Streptococci. Front Microbiol 2015;6:165. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2015.00165

Arsi K, Donoghue AM, Venkitanarayanan K, et al. the efficacy of the natural plant extracts, thymol and carvacrol against c ampylobacter colonization in broiler chickens. J Food Safety 2014;34:321-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jfs.12129

Friedman M, Henika PR, Mandrell RE. Bactericidal activities of plant essential oils and some of their isolated constituents against Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella enterica. J Food Protect 2002;65:1545-60. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4315/0362-028X-65.10.1545

Rassu G, Nieddu M, Bosi P, et al. Encapsulation and modified-release of thymol from oral microparticles as adjuvant or substitute to current medications. Phytomedicine 2014;21:1627-32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2014.07.017

Attouchi M, Sadok S. The effect of powdered thyme sprinkling on quality changes of wild and farmed gilthead sea bream fillets stored in ice. Food Chemistry 2010;119:1527-34. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2009.09.038

Ozogul Y, Yuvka İ, Ucar Y, et al. Evaluation of effects of nanoemulsion based on herb essential oils (rosemary, laurel, thyme and sage) on sensory, chemical and microbiological quality of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillets during ice storage. LWT 2017;75:677-84. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2016.10.009

Dehghani P, Hosseini SM, Golmakani MT, et al. Shelf-life extension of refrigerated rainbow trout fillets using total Farsi gum-based coatings containing clove and thyme essential oils emulsions. Food Hydrocolloids 2018;77:677-88. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2017.11.009

Meral R, Ceylan Z, Kose S. Limitation of microbial spoilage of rainbow trout fillets using characterized thyme oil antibacterial nanoemulsions. J Food Safety 2019;39:e12644. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jfs.12644

Ruelas-Chacon X, Aguilar-González A, de la Luz Reyes-Vega M, Peralta-Rodríguez RD, Corona-Flores J, Rebolloso-Padilla ON, Aguilera-Carbo AF. Bioactive protecting coating of guar gum with thyme oil to extend shelf life of tilapia (Oreoschromis niloticus) fillets. Polymers 2020;12:3019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12123019

Dandlen SA, Lima AS, Mendes MD, Miguel MG, Faleiro ML, Sousa MJ, Pedro LG, Barroso JG, Figueiredo AC. Antioxidant activity of six Portuguese thyme species essential oils. Flavour Fragrance J 2010;25:150-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ffj.1972

Yousefi, S. (2022). Thyme: A natural preservative for seafood. Infectious Diseases and Herbal Medicine, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/idhm.2022.191

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations