Inhibition of Aeromonas caviae and A-sobria by sodium chloride, citric acid, ascorbic acid, potassium sorbate and extracts of Thymus vulgaris

The respective and combined effects of sodium chloride, ascorbic acid, citric acid, potassium sorbate, and Thymus vulgaris extract on the growth of Aeromonas caviae and Aeromonas sobria were investigated. Sodium chloride (3%) significantly reduced the growth and 4% NaCl inhibited growth of the tested strains. Ascorbic acid (0.1%), potassium sorbate (0.05%), and citric acid (0.03%) slightly inhibited growth. T. vulgaris extract (0.3%) greatly reduced the growth. Various combinations of these compounds prevented growth of the tested strains. A combination of NaCl (3%) and ascorbic acid (0.1%), citric acid (0.03%) and potassium sorbate (0.05%), or citric acid (0.03%) and ascorbic acid (0.1%) inhibited growth of A. caviae and A. sobria. In fish homogenates, the addition of ascorbic acid (0.1%) and citric acid (0.03%) was the most effective combination tested.