Polyphenols are a common group of plant based bioactive compounds, that can affect human health because of their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties as well as free-radical scavenging activity. An increasing interest is observed in the interaction between polyphenols and microbiota occurring in food and the human gut. The aim of the work presented here, was to evaluate the effect of some polyphenolic compounds on the growth of two strains of Bifidobacterium: B. adolescentis and B. bifidum. The influence of some flavonoids: naringinin, hesperidin, rutin, quercetin as well as phenolic acids: gallic, caffeic, p-coumaric, ferulic, chlorogenic, vanillic and sinapic was determined by a 96-well microtiter plate assay. In the experiments the effect of three different concentrations of polyphenols: 2, 20 and 100 µg/ml on the growth of Bifidobacterium strains was investigated. All tested compounds influenced the growth of the examined bacteria. Both stimulatory and inhibitory effects were observed in comparison to the positive control. The strongest impact on the growth of bifidobacteria was observed during the first hours of incubation. The constant inhibitory effect was observed for hesperidin and quercetin addition and was dose-dependent. B. bifidum showed a stronger dependence on phenolic acids content in the medium than B. adolescentis during the first hours of incubation.

Essential oils (EOs) are products of plant origin and include mixtures of different chemical compounds. These volatile substances have many interesting properties, including antifungal properties. Fungi may develop under field conditions on crops such as wheat or corn and are able to synthesize mycotoxins, which adversely affect livestock and human health. In the present study, selected EOs were used to inhibit the growth of Fusarium graminearum and F. culmorum and reduce the concentrations of mycotoxins in wheat grain. The EOs significantly inhibited the growth of tested Fusarium species (90.99–99.99%), as determined based on ergosterol quantitative analysis. Only the addition of orange oil to F. culmorum exhibits a different inhibition capacity (68.13%). EO application resulted in a large reduction in zearalenone content (99.08–99.99%); only in the case of orange oil application was the reduction estimated at approximately 68.33%. However, all EOs provided a significant reduction in the concentration levels of group B trichothecenes (94.51–100%). It can be concluded that EOs inhibit the growth of fungi of the genus Fusarium and reduce concentration levels of the mycotoxins zearalenone and group B trichothecenes.

Owing to their rich chemical composition, essential oils (EOs) have many interesting properties, including antimicrobial activities. The presence of Fusarium and their secondary metabolites, mycotoxins, in cereal crops is a serious problem in agriculture, which consequently affects food quality. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of selected EOs on the growth of Fusarium graminearum and F. culmorum and the biosynthesis of mycotoxins in maize seeds. Chromatographic analysis of ergosterol as a fungal growth indicator showed a significant inhibition of Fusarium growth (83.24–99.99%) compared to the control samples, which as a consequence resulted in a reduction in mycotoxin concentrations. The addition of cinnamon, palmarosa, orange, and spearmint EOs was shown to be the most effective in reducing zearalenone concentration (99.10–99.92%). Deoxynivalenol analysis confirmed a very high reduction of this compound at the application all tested EOs (90.69–100%). The obtained results indicated that EOs have a great potential to inhibit growth of Fusarium fungi as well as reduce the concentration of mycotoxins in maize seed.

Animal microbiota is becoming an object of interest as a source of beneficial bacteria for commercial use. Moreover, the escalating problem of bacterial resistance to antibiotics is threatening animals and humans; therefore, in the last decade intensive search for alternative antimicrobials has been observed. In this study, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from suckling and weaned pigs feces (376) and characterized to determine their functional properties and usability as pigs additives. Selection of the most promising LAB was made after each stage of research. Isolates were tested for their antimicrobial activity (376) and susceptibility to antibiotics (71). Selected LAB isolates (41) were tested for the production of organic acids, enzymatic activity, cell surface hydrophobicity and survival in gastrointestinal tract. Isolates selected for feed additive (5) were identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and partial sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene, represented by Lentilactobacillus, Lacticaseibacillus (both previously classified as Lactobacillus) and Pediococcus genus. Feed additive prototype demonstrated high viability after lyophilization and during storage at 4 °C and − 20 °C for 30 days. Finally, feed additive was tested for survival in simulated alimentary tract of pigs, showing viability at the sufficient level to colonize the host. Studies are focused on obtaining beneficial strains of LAB with probiotic properties for pigs feed additive.

Essential oils are volatile compounds, extracted from plants, which have a strong odour. These compounds are known for their antibacterial and antifungal properties. However, data concerning degradation of mycotoxins by these metabolites are very limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of essential oils (cedarwood, cinnamon leaf, cinnamon bark, white grapefruit, pink grapefruit, lemon, eucalyptus, palmarosa, mint, thymic and rosemary) on zearalenone reduction under various in vitro conditions, including the influence of temperature, pH, incubation time and mycotoxin and essential oil concentrations. The degree of zearalenone reduction was determined by HPLC method. It was found that the kind of essential oil influences the effectiveness of toxin level reduction, the highest being observed for lemon, grapefruit, eucalyptus and palmarosa oils, while lavender, thymic and rosemary oils did not degrade the toxin. In addition, the decrease in zearalenone content was temperature, pH as well as toxin and essential oil concentration dependent. Generally, higher reduction was observed at higher temperature in a wide range of pH, with clear evidence that the degradation rate increased gradually with time. In some combinations (e.g. palmarosa oil at pH 6 and 4 or 20C) a toxin degradation rate higher than 99% was observed. It was concluded that some of the tested essential oils may be effective in detoxification of zearalenone. We suggested that essential oils should be recognized as an interesting and effective means of zearalenone decontamination and/or detoxification.