Studying the antimicrobial activity of juniper extracts and their impact on microbial contamination of bakery products

The purpose of the study is to determine the antimicrobial activity of extracts of juniper berries and needles and their effect on microbial contamination of bakery products by microscopic fungi. In the course of the work, experimental extracts from juniper berries and needles with various concentrations were obtained, the antimicrobial activity of experimental extracts was assessed on strains of yeast Candida tropicalis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rhodotorula rubra and bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, as well as test baking of bread and its implementation. storage for further assessment of the effect of the studied concentrations of extracts on microbial contamination and shelf life of products. The extractants used to obtain experimental extracts were water and an aqueous solution of 50 % alcohol. The antimicrobial activity of the experimental extracts was assessed using the disk-diffusion method; dry nutrient media GMF and Sabouraud were used for the growth of microorganisms. The results of assessing the antimicrobial activity of the experimental extracts showed that none of the obtained extracts affected the growth of yeast strains. Aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of juniper needles at a concentration of 25 % showed inhibition of the growth of Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli bacteria. After test baking on a prototype bread with an aqueous extract of juniper needles, 25 % growth of mold fungi was detected after 72 hours of storage. No fungal growth was detected on the sample with a hydroalcoholic extract of juniper needles after 96 hours of storage.