Carob leaves could inhibit Listeria growth in food

Carob leaves may be a powerful new tool in the fight against Listeria monocytogenes. According to a report in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, carob leaves are a rich source of antibacterial substances ideal for fighting the microbe responsible for listeriosis.

An increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria has prompted further research into new natural substances that can preserve food and control disease-causing microbes. The report’s authors cited a need for new substances to combat Listeria monocytogenes as the impetus for their research. While carob’s antibacterial properties had already been established, it had not been tested against Listeria until now.

The researchers conducted tests that showed extracts from carob leaves were effective in inhibiting the growth of Listeria bacteria in laboratory cultures. The results were so encouraging that the researchers now plan to conduct further tests of carob extracts on Listeria in meat and fish samples.

To read the full report, click here.