Comparison of Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Free and Encapsulated Garlic Oil with Beta-cyclodextrin

Background and Objectives: Application of garlic oil in food industry can be improved by encapsulation. There is no study about the formation of inclusion complex of garlic oil by beta-cyclodextrin. The aim of the present study is comparison of the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of free and encapsulated garlic oil with beta-cyclodextrin. Materials and Methods: Antioxidant activity was determined by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl assay, and antibacterial properties by agar well diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration and bacterial growth assay. Statistical analysis was performed by Minitab statistical software. Results and conclusion: Garlic oil had poor antioxidant activity (EC50, 5222 mu g ml(-1)) and EC50 because garlic oil/beta-cyclodextrin (containing 1495 mu g ml(-1) released garlic oil) was achieved after 5 h and 25 min. Agar well diffusion showed no inhibition zone on Muller Hinton Agar for garlic oil and garlic oil/beta-cyclodextrin (with initial release (shaking at 150 rpm for 24 h at 37 degrees C) and without initial release). Staphylococcus aureus was the most susceptible bacterium to garlic oil, and garlic oil/beta-cyclodextrin with and without initial release (minimum inhibitory concentration 10(-5), 10(-4) and 10(-3) % w v(-1), respectively); however, Bacillus cereus was the most resistant. The effect of initial release for garlic oil/betacyclodextrin on inhibiting the growth of all four bacteria was significant. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the inhibitory effect of garlic oil and garlic oil/beta-cyclodextrin with initial release on Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, also Salmonella entrica and Escherichia coli. Garlic oil showed a weak antioxidant activity in 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl assay. Garlic oil and its complex were not able to penetrate to the solid media; therefore, no inhibition zone and no antibacterial activity in the agar well diffusion assay were observed. Initial release of garlic oil/beta-cyclodextrin had significant impact on the inhibition of four bacterial growth, similar to free garlic oil. Since encapsulation of garlic oil can cover its drawbacks (low solubility in water, liquid form, and intense odor), garlic oil/beta-cyclodextrin could be considered as an nonsynthetic antibacterial agent.