Identification of H2O2 as a major antimicrobial component in coffee

Müller U, Sauer T, Weigel I, Pichner R, Pischetsrieder M (2011)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2011

Journal

Food and Function Royal Society of Chemistry

Book Volume: 2

Pages Range: 265-272

DOI: 10.1039/c0fo00180e

Abstract

Coffee shows distinct antimicrobial activity against several bacterial genera. The present study investigated molecular mechanisms and active ingredients mediating the antimicrobial effect of coffee. Depending on concentration, roasted, but not raw coffee brew inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli and Listeria innocua. Several coffee ingredients with known antibacterial properties were tested for their contribution to the observed effect. In natural concentration, caffeine, ferulic acid and a mixture of all test compounds showed very weak, but significant activity, whereas trigonelline, 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural, chlorogenic acid, nicotinic acid, caffeic acid, and methylglyoxal were not active. Antimicrobial activity, however, was completely abolished by addition of catalase indicating that H2O2 is a major antimicrobial coffee component. In accordance with this assumption, bacterial counts during 16 h of incubation were inversely related to the H 2O2 concentration in the incubation solution. Pure H 2O2 showed slightly weaker activity. The H 2O2 dependent antimicrobial activity of coffee could be mimicked by a reaction mixture of d-ribose and l-lysine (30 min 120 °C) indicating that H2O2 is generated in the coffee brew by Maillard reaction products. Identification of H2O2 as major antimicrobial coffee component is important to evaluate the application of coffee or coffee extracts as natural preservatives. © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Authors with CRIS profile

Ulla Müller Lehrstuhl für Lebensmittelchemie (Henriette-Schmidt-Burkhardt Lehrstuhl) Ingrid Weigel Lehrstuhl für Lebensmittelchemie (Henriette-Schmidt-Burkhardt Lehrstuhl) Monika Pischetsrieder Lehrstuhl für Lebensmittelchemie (Henriette-Schmidt-Burkhardt Lehrstuhl)

Additional Organisation(s)

Emil-Fischer-Zentrum (Emil Fischer Center)

Involved external institutions

Max-Rubner-Institut - Bundesforschungsinstitut für Ernährung und Lebensmittel DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Müller, U., Sauer, T., Weigel, I., Pichner, R., & Pischetsrieder, M. (2011). Identification of H2O2 as a major antimicrobial component in coffee. Food and Function, 2, 265-272. https://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c0fo00180e

MLA:

Müller, Ulla, et al. "Identification of H2O2 as a major antimicrobial component in coffee." Food and Function 2 (2011): 265-272.

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