Waste-Derived Antibiofilm Strategies: A Review of Eco-Enzymes and Citrus Essential Oils

DOI: 10.22161/ijeab.113.15

Abstract:
Microbial biofilms are a major cause of persistent contamination in healthcare, food processing, and agricultural systems, and they significantly contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Conventional chemical disinfectants often show reduced efficacy against mature biofilms due to the protective extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix and may also raise environmental concerns. This review discusses the antibiofilm potential of eco-enzymes, which are fermentation-derived liquids produced from citrus waste and other organic substrates containing organic acids, hydrolytic enzymes, and microbial metabolites. Additionally, citrus essential oils rich in bioactive terpenoids such as limonene, citral, and linalool are reviewed as sustainable antimicrobial alternatives. Eco-enzymes disrupt biofilms mainly through acidification and enzymatic degradation of EPS components, whereas citrus essential oils primarily exert antimicrobial effects through membrane disruption and quorum sensing inhibition. Both approaches demonstrate inhibitory effects against important biofilm-forming pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. Indirect evidence suggests a possible synergistic interaction between eco-enzymes and citrus essential oils, where EPS weakening by acidic fermentation products may enhance essential oil penetration into biofilms. However, significant research gaps remain, including limited standardization of eco-enzyme production, insufficient multispecies biofilm studies, and inadequate cytotoxicity evaluations. Future research focusing on optimized formulations and safety assessment may support practical applications of these waste-derived antibiofilm agents in food safety, healthcare, and environmental sanitation.

Keywords:
Antimicrobial resistance; Biofilm; Citrus essential oil; Eco-enzyme; Quorum sensing

Article Info:
Antimicrobial resistance; Biofilm; Citrus essential oil; Eco-enzyme; Quorum sensing

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