Celery (Apium graveolens L.) as a source of phytochemicals with antioxidant and antibacterial effects

Abstract

The aim of this work was to investigate the content of phytochemicals in celery root and its antioxidant and antibacterial potential. The content of total phenols in celery root was 2.99 mg GAE g-1, total flavonoids 1.38 mg RE g-1, total tannins 1.87 mg GAE g-1 and vitamin C 12.7 mg 100 g-1. Antioxidant activity measured by the DPPH method and expressed in % inhibition were 42.26 % or 2.38 μmol TE g-1. Antibacterial activity was tested on pure cultures of Enterococcus faecium, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enteritidis, E. Coli and Serratia marcescens. Listeria monocytogenes showed the highest sensitivity while the Salmonella enteritidis and E. coli were the most resistant.