The antimicrobial efficacy of Ascorbic acid against several strains of Escherichia coli

Abstract

Objective

Ascorbic acid's acknowledged antioxidant and immune-stimulating qualities led to an increase in interest in its antibacterial qualities. Nonetheless, comprehending the impact of ascorbic acid on distinct Escherichia coli strains continues to be challenging.

Methods

In this work, four strains of Escherichia coli—enterotoxigenic, enteroinvasive, enteropathogenic, and enteroaggregative—were treated with three different doses of ascorbic acid: 5, 10, and 20 mg/ml. Escherichia coli strain vitality and proliferation were assessed using spectrophotometer absorbance readings after treatment.

Results

On the treated strains, there was a discernible dose-dependent inhibitory effect. The absorption dropped off significantly from 0.310 ± 0.082 when compared to the positive control (0 mg/ml) to 0.102 ± 0.017 (p<0.001) following the administration of 20 mg/ml of vitamin C. Ascorbic acid at a 5 mg/ml concentration demonstrated the greatest inhibition from 0.310 ± 0.082 to 0.125 ± 0.025 (p<0.001), despite the little incremental changes. Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli exhibited the most amount of inhibition, according to our findings.

Conclusion

In the end, the experiment showed that ascorbic acid inhibits Escherichia coli growth. According to the studies, at lower doses, ascorbic acid may be able to limit the growth of certain strains of Escherichia coli. To find out how much ascorbic acid is best consumed in human situations or to comprehend the underlying mechanisms that contribute to its beneficial benefits, more research is needed.