Filgueiras, Cristina TostesVanetti, Maria Cristina Dantas2019-05-312019-05-312006-051678-4324http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-89132006000400008http://www.locus.ufv.br/handle/123456789/25632The inhibitory effect of eugenol, a naturally occurring compound mainly present in the essential oil fraction of cloves, was studied on the growth and listeriolysin O (LLO) production by Listeria monocytogenes. Potassium efflux from cells promoted by eugenol was also determined after 24 h incubation in phosphate buffered saline. Eugenol promoted a delay on the growth of L. monocytogenes at concentrations of 100, 300 and 500 μ g mL -1 and above 800 μ g mL -1 the effect was bactericidal. Production of LLO by L. monocytogenes in the presence of eugenol was reduced 80-100%. An accumulation of external K + was observed above 300 μ g mL -1 of eugenol which indicated that the cell membrane was affected. The results showed the effectiveness of eugenol in controlling growth and LLO production of L. monocytogenes cells.pdfengOpen AccessEugenolListeria monocytogenesAntilistericLLOArtigo