Antimicrobial Activity and Antibiofilm Potential of Coenzyme Q₀ against <i>Salmonella</i> Typhimurium

• Main Authors: Zhuokai Yang, Xiaoyu Ma, Yan Li, Huidong Xu, Xinyi Han, Ruixia Wang, Pengyu Zhao, Ziyi Li, Chao Shi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
• Series: Foods
• Subjects: coenzyme Q₀; <i>Salmonella</i> Typhimurium; cell membrane; biofilm; raw chicken
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/10/6/1211

Coenzyme Q₀ (CoQ₀) has anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects; however, the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of CoQ₀ against <i>Salmonella enterica</i> serovar Typhimurium are unknown. Thus, we investigated the bacteriostatic and antibiofilm activities, along with the underlying mechanism, of CoQ₀ against <i>S</i>. Typhimurium. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CoQ₀ against <i>S. enterica</i> serovars Typhimurium was 0.1–0.2 mg/mL (549–1098 µM), and CoQ₀ at MIC and 2MIC decreased viable <i>S</i>. Typhimurium counts below detectable limits within 6 and 4 h, respectively. CoQ₀ at 20MIC (4 mg/mL) reduced <i>S</i>. Typhimurium on raw chicken by 1.5 log CFU/cm³ within 6 h. CoQ₀ effectively disrupted cell membrane integrity and induced morphological changes in the cell, resulting in hyperpolarization, decreased intracellular ATP concentrations, and cellular constituents leakage. Biofilm-associated <i>S</i>. Typhimurium cells were killed by CoQ₀ treatment. These findings suggest that CoQ₀ could be applied as a natural antibacterial substance for use against <i>S</i>. Typhimurium by the food industry.