Natural Listeriosis Killer Found in Mango Pits

by Barbara McPherson | August 20, 2009 at 02:03 pm
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A University of Alberta PhD student has found a naturally occuring listeriosis killer in mango pits.

PhD student Christina Engels has been studying mangoes since March 2008 and recently published her findings in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Creating a preservative from the discarded and inedible pits would not only reuse a major byproduct from the mango juicing and canning plants, but should also create a healthier food alternative.

In light of the ever more frequent warnings about possible Listeria monocytogene contamination of food, this natural source solution offers hope that Listeriosis can be curbed.
Christina Engels isolated tannins(brown pigments) from the mango pits and found them effective in killing the L. monocytogene bacteria while leaving others unharmed.

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First Flagged at 6:10 PM, Aug 20, 2009 by Tina Kells
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