Antibiofilm Action of Plant Terpenes in Strains: Potential Inhibitors of the Synthesis of Extracellular Polymeric Substances.

can form biofilms that contribute to its resistance in food processing environments. Biofilms are a dense population of cells that adhere to the surface, creating a matrix composed of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) consisting mainly of polysaccharides, proteins, and eDNA. Remarkably, the secreted substances, including cellulose, curli, and colanic acid, act as protective barriers for and contribute to its resistance and persistence when exposed to disinfectants. Conventional treatments are mostly ineffective in controlling this problem; therefore, exploring anti-biofilm molecules that minimize and eradicate biofilms is required. The evidence indicated that terpenes effectively reduce biofilms and affect their three-dimensional structure due to the decrease in the content of EPS. Specifically, in the case of , cellulose is an essential component in their biofilms, and its control could be through the inhibition of glycosyltransferase, the enzyme that synthesizes this polymer. The inhibition of polymeric substances secreted by during biofilm development could be considered a target to reduce its resistance to disinfectants, and terpenes can be regarded as inhibitors of this process. However, more studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of these compounds against enzymes that produce extracellular polymeric substances.