Antimicrobial effect of Magnolia officinalis extract against Staphylococcus aureus.

Background: The antimicrobial effect of Magnolia officinalis extract (MOE) against Staphylococcus aureus was investigated in a minced mutton system and the mechanisms of its antimicrobial activity were studied by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy observations.

Results: MOE inoculation effectively inhibited the growth of S. aureus in minced mutton compared with that in control meat without MOE. The cell membrane of S. aureus treated with MOE showed structural disorganisation and cytoplasmic volume overflow. After 48 h of exposure to MOE, many S. aureus cells had completely collapsed.

Conclusion: The antimicrobial mechanisms of MOE resulted mainly in cell membrane and wall damage, causing increased permeability of cell membranes or lysis of cell walls and loss of cellular constituents, impairment of structural components and changes in bacterial cell morphology.