Bioactivity of Fucoidan as an Antimicrobial Agent in a New Functional Beverage

Abstract

Seaweeds are a sustainable source of novel functional ingredients with applicability in pharmaceutics, biotechnology, and food science. The bioactivity of most of these marine compounds has scarcely been studied. The present study overviews the bioactivity of the polysaccharide fucoidan derived from Fucus vesiculosus brown algae as an antimicrobial agent against Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. The results obtained in vitro in reference medium reveal a bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect of fucoidan against both pathogens, this bioactivity being significantly dependent (p-value ≤ 0.05) on the concentration, 5–1000 μg/mL, temperature, 8–37 °C, and exposure time, 0–12 days. The results were validated in the formulation of a new functional pasteurized apple beverage to be commercialized under refrigeration. Fucoidan added at 25–100 μg/mL was highly effective against both pathogens. These results increase knowledge for the future formulation of new functional beverages that include marine compounds (high content in fibre, high content in protein; prebiotic and antioxidant properties), additionally revealing antimicrobial potential.

1. Introduction

Natural antimicrobials of animal, vegetable, and marine origin have gained importance in recent years. Specifically, marine organisms have emerged as a sustainable source of products with high applicability in industry.

Seaweeds are divided into three groups of macroalgae, red (Rhodophyta), brown (Phaeophyta), and green (Chlorophyta), depending on their nutrient and chemical composition. In particular, brown seaweeds (e.g., Laminaria digitata, Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus vesiculosus, Macrocystis pyrifera, Sargassum fusiforme, Undaria pinnatifida) have a long history of consumption in Japan, Korea, and south-east Asian countries [1,2]. Brown algae have been consumed since ancient times in China, and their benefits have been associated with one of the highest ratios of longest-living people in the world (34 centenarians for every 100,000 inhabitants) [3]. Owing to the highly nutritious composition of these organisms, with their high protein content, high concentration of polysaccharides, natural richness in minerals, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and vitamins; and their high content of bioactive molecules, brown algae are being studied in depth as edible vegetables to be distributed to general consumers, both as raw products and as ingredients obtained by extracting specific compounds [4].

The search for novel ingredients to increase the healthy potential of ready-to-eat (RTE) products is increasing in the food market. Sustainable ingredients that are capable of increasing the fibre content of the final product or improving the prebiotic qualities of these newly designed foods are now being investigated [5]. Moreover, the search for ways of increasing the protein content of formulations targeted at infants and the elderly is an additional stimulus for the formulation of new products [3,6].

Specific bioactivities exerted by brown algae compounds place this group in the spotlight for the discovery of natural ingredients with anti-cancer potential, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities, and satiating, prebiotic, and anti-obesity properties [7,8,9,10,11].

Given the need to find effective alternative antimicrobials against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, many components of brown algae have been investigated. Nowadays, phlorotannins, PUFA, polysaccharides, proteins, and peptides are presented as effective antimicrobial agents against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, and even viruses [11,12,13].

Sulfated polysaccharides (e.g., alginic acids, laminarins, and fucoidans) in brown algae, representing 5–40% of the dry weight of the raw material, have been successfully explored for pharmaceutical and dietary applications [14]. Fucoidan is a term used for fucose-rich polysaccharides found in the fibrillar cell walls and intercellular spaces of brown seaweeds [10]. These sulfated fucose polysaccharides are generally built of a backbone of (1→3)- and (1→4)-linked α-l-fucopyranose residues (from 100 to 1600 kDa molecular weight). The antibacterial activity of fucoidan has been demonstrated against some clinical pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Helicobacter pylori [15,16].

Glycoprotein receptors present on the cell surface of polysaccharides appear to be responsible for the antibacterial action of fucoidan, owing to their ability to bind with compounds in the bacterial cell wall, cytoplasmic membrane, and DNA [13,17]. In spite of fucoidan’s promising antimicrobial potential, its antibacterial capability against foodborne pathogens has scarcely been assessed [18].

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of fucoidan from Fucus vesiculosus as a preservative agent in a pasteurized apple juice-based beverage to be marketed under refrigeration. To achieve this purpose, firstly, several fucoidan concentrations and incubation conditions (temperature and exposure time) will be assayed in reference medium against two of the most important foodborne pathogens, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium [19,20]. The final objective is to contribute to increasing current knowledge in the validation of the applicability of this ingredient with functional (prebiotic and antioxidant) and technological (preservative) properties in food.

2. Material and Methods

2.1. Listeria Monocytogenes

The present study was carried out using the strain Listeria monocytogenes CECT 911 provided by the Spanish Culture Type Collection (CECT, PATERNA, Spain). The lyophilized culture was revived according to the instructions provided by the CECT. Briefly, the lyophilized bacterial content provided in a capsule was diluted in 0.2 mL of Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) (Scharlab, Barcelona, Spain) and afterwards transferred to a sterile flask containing 10 mL of TSB. The flask was incubated at 37 °C for 30 min. The culture was then incubated in a flask of 400 mL sterile TSB for 16 h at 37 °C, with constant stirring (200 rpm), until the stationary phase was obtained. Cells were recovered by two centrifugation steps (4000× g, 15 min, 4 °C), with removal of the supernatant each time. Recovered cells were resuspended in sterile TSB supplemented with 20% glycerol [1:1]. A stock culture was prepared and maintained frozen at −80 °C in 2 mL cryovials. The final concentration of the stock was 5 ± 0.8 × 10⁹ CFU/mL.

2.2. Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium

A pure culture of S. typhimurium (CECT 443) was provided freeze-dried by the Spanish Type Culture Collection. After rehydration in 10 mL of Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) (Scharlab Chemie, Barcelona, Spain), the culture was transferred to 500 mL of TSB and incubated at 37 °C with continuous shaking (200 rpm) for 14 h to obtain cells in a stationary growth stage according to the method previously described by Saucedo-Reyes et al. [21]. The cells were centrifuged twice at 4000× g at 4 °C for 15 min and then resuspended in TSB. After centrifugation, the cells were recovered and resuspended in 20 mL of TSB with 20% glycerol. The bacterial suspension was dispensed in 2 mL vials with a final concentration of 10⁸ CFU/mL. The 2 mL samples were immediately frozen and stored at −80 °C until needed for the antimicrobial studies.

2.3. Fucoidan Suspension Preparation

Fucoidan from the Fucus vesiculosus species belonging to the Phaeophyceae group (brown algae) was provided by Sigma-Aldrich (Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Buchs, Switzerland) as an odourless white powdered product with purity ≥95% (reference number F8190-500).

Suspensions containing fucoidan at different concentrations were prepared using Mueller Hinton Broth (MHB) (Scharlab, Barcelona, Spain) as reference medium. A stock solution was prepared containing 5000 μg/mL of fucoidan in MHB. The suspension was sterilized by filtration (Minisart 0.20 μm filters; reference 16534-K) (Sigma-Aldrich Inc., St. Louis, USA). The stock solution was divided into aliquots and maintained at −20 °C to guarantee the homogeneity of the preparations in independent work sessions. Tubes containing 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 1000 μg/mL of fucoidan were prepared in sterile MHB in triplicate. Tubes not supplemented with fucoidan, containing only MHB, were also prepared.

2.4. Inoculum and Incubation Conditions

The suspensions supplemented/not supplemented with fucoidan were inoculated with L. monocytogenes and S. typhimurium at a final concentration of 4.5 × 10⁴ CFU/mL.

To monitor possible side contaminations during the assay period, a battery of non-inoculated tubes (blank samples) was also prepared, supplemented/not supplemented with fucoidan. Suspensions were incubated at the optimum growth temperature of the bacteria, 37 °C, and also at 8 °C, a slight abuse refrigeration temperature (worst scenario corresponding to a cold chain breakage) with high risk for pasteurized products. The incubation period was 7 days at 37 °C, and 12 days at 8 °C.

2.5. Growth Kinetic Study under Fucoidan Exposure

The growth behaviour of the bacteria was recorded by means of spectrophotometric measurements (OD_{550 nm}) and plate count [7]. Aliquots were taken regularly, both from samples incubated at 37 °C (0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 days) and from samples incubated at 8 °C (0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 12 days), and spectrophotometric and CFU/mL quantitative values were recorded. Blank samples were used as control in the OD measurements. The suspensions were monitored during the complete incubation period to determine the stability of each of the formulated matrices under the conditions studied.

Serial dilutions in Buffered Peptone Water (BPW) (Scharlab, Barcelona, Spain) (1:1000 (w/v)) were made from suspensions during the period studied, and seeded on Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) (Scharlab S.A., Barcelona, Spain) plates in duplicate. The plates were incubated at 37 °C for 48 h prior to the bacterial count (CFU/mL). All the assays were carried out in triplicate on three separate days.

The growth/inhibition results obtained for L. monocytogenes and S. typhimurium under exposure to fucoidan were represented as the decimal log of viable cells (log₁₀ (Nf/N₀), Nf being the number of viable cells at each point in time in CFU/mL, and N₀ the initial CFU/mL at t = 0 days) versus the incubation time (days), to determine the bacteriostatic and/or bactericidal effect of this compound.

2.6. Formulation of a New Functional Apple Juice Beverage

A new prebiotic apple juice beverage (pH = 4.3) was formulated, including fucoidan at several concentrations, to validate the effectiveness of fucoidan in a real food matrix. Suspensions of fucoidan at 25, 100, and 1000 μg/mL were prepared in UHT apple juice to determine the effectiveness of fucoidan in this simple substrate. Supplemented/non-supplemented matrices were inoculated with L. monocytogenes and S. typhimurium to obtain a final concentration of 5 × 10⁴ CFU/mL. The non-supplemented apple juice was considered as the control sample. The non-supplemented and non-inoculated apple juice was considered as the blank sample.

2.7. Statistical Analysis of Data

An ANOVA analysis was carried out to determine statistically significant differences (p-value ≤ 0.05) between the growth/inhibition/reduction of bacterial levels under the conditions studied, taking into account the variables included in the present study: fucoidan concentration (μg/mL), temperature (°C) and exposure time (days). All the statistical analyses were carried out using Statgraphics Centurion XV software (Statpoint Technologies Inc., Warrenton, VA, USA).

3. Results

3.1. Antimicrobial Potential of Fucoidan against L. monocytogenes

Figure 1 presents the growth kinetic results from the incubation studies at 37 and 8 °C in reference MHB medium supplemented/not supplemented with fucoidan. As can be seen graphically, at the slight abuse refrigeration temperature L. monocytogenes was able to grow to a maximum of 1.06 ± 0.15 log cycle in MHB, during the incubation period of 12 days.

The addition of fucoidan at low concentrations in the range 5–25 μg/mL had no bacteriostatic or bactericidal effect in the control of this pathogen. When the concentration of fucoidan was increased to 50 μg/mL, a bacteriostatic effect was exerted close to 0.75 log cycles (8 °C, 7 days). Higher 100–1000 μg/mL fucoidan concentrations were bactericidal (0.66–1.12 log cycles reduction) after 12 days of cell exposure at 8 °C.

At the optimum growth temperature of the bacterium, fucoidan showed both a bacteriostatic and a bactericidal effect against L. monocytogenes, depending on the concentration added (p-value ≤ 0.05) and the exposure time considered (p-value ≤ 0.05). Fucoidan concentrations of 5, 25, and 50 μg/mL showed a bacteriostatic effect against L. monocytogenes after 5 days of incubation, inhibiting growth of this pathogen by up to 1.62 ± 0.08 log cycle with respect to the control. When the exposure time increased, during incubation for 5 to 7 days at 37 °C, the antimicrobial potential of the lowest fucoidan concentrations increased significantly (p-value ≤ 0.05). The 5 μg/mL fucoidan concentration was effective in inhibiting the growth of the pathogen to a maximum of 1.95 ± 0.06 log cycles after 7 days of exposure. Concentrations in the range 25–50 μg/mL became bactericidal, reducing the initial bacterial levels by nearly 0.40 log cycles, after 7 days of incubation at 37 °C.

The highest concentrations of fucoidan, 100, 200, and 1000 μg/mL, showed a bactericidal effect against L. monocytogenes even after only 24 h of incubation at 37 °C. However, no significant differences were observed in the bactericidal effect attributable to fucoidan in the concentration range studied 100–1000 μg/mL. Moreover, no significant increase in the bactericidal effect due to an increase in exposure time was observed in this concentration range (from 0.51 log cycles bacterial reduction after 24 h of incubation to 0.62 log cycles reduction after 7 days of incubation).

Previous studies carried out by Lee et al. [22] attributed a high antimicrobial potential to fucoidan against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria commonly present in the oral cavity (Streptococcus mutans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Porphyromonas gingivalis, among others). The bacteriostatic potential of fucoidan against these bacteria was in the range of 150–500 μg/mL. Fucoidan showed a bactericidal effect against oral cavity bacteria in the range of 250–1000 μg/mL. Similar results were reported by Choi et al. [12], with MIC and MBC equal to 128 μg/mL and 256–512 μg/mL, respectively, against several strains of S. aureus (Gram-positive). According to our results, a higher antimicrobial potential could be attributed to fucoidan derived from Fucus vesiculosus against the Gram-positive foodborne pathogen L. monocytogenes, the MIC at 37 °C being 5 μg/mL, and the MBC value 100 μg/mL at the same incubation temperature (see

Table 1. Fucoidan bacteriostatic and bactericidal potential against Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella typhimurium in reference medium and in an apple juice-based beverage.

	Temperature
	37 °C			8 °C
Substrates	µg/mL	Exposure time (days)	Log10 cycles	µg/mL	Exposure time (days)	Log cycles
Listeria monocytogenes
Mueller Hinton Broth (MHB)
MIC	5	5	1.55 ± 0.04	100	7	0.83 ± 0.08
MBC	100	1	0.61 ± 0.03	50	12	0.89 ± 0.13
Apple juice	µg/mL	Exposure time (days)	Log10 cycles	µg/mL	Exposure time (days)	Log cycles
MIC	-	-	-	-	-	-
MBC	-	-	-	1000	12	0.70 ± 0.06
Salmonella typhimurium
Mueller Hinton Broth (MHB)
MIC	1000	7	1.08 ± 0.23	-	-	-
MBC	-	-	-	10	2	1.25 ± 0.15
Apple juice	µg/mL	Exposure time (days)	Log10 cycles	µg/mL	Exposure time (days)	Log cycles
MIC	-	-	-	-	-	-
MBC	-	-	-	25	2	1.52 ± 0.08

MIC: Minimum inhibitory concentration (µg/mL); MBC: Minimum bactericidal concentration (µg/mL).

).

3.2. Antimicrobial Potential of Fucoidan against S. typhimurium

The results of S. typhimurium growth inhibition and inactivation due to the effect of fucoidan are presented in Figure 2. As can be seen graphically, at low incubation temperature fucoidan concentrations in the range 5–1000 μg/mL were all effective in inhibiting bacterial growth, and even more in inactivating S. typhimurium, depending on the fucoidan concentration applied and the exposure time considered (p-value ≤ 0.05).

In the non-supplemented MHB control medium, S. typhimurium was unable to grow at 8 °C, and the initially inoculated levels decreased progressively during the refrigeration period (0.50 log cycles after 7 days). The lowest concentration of fucoidan, 5 µg/mL, showed a bactericidal effect close to 1 log₁₀ cycle against S. typhimurium after only 48 h of refrigerated incubation. This effect increased as the exposure time continued, reaching a maximum reduction of 1.64 log cycles after 5 days of exposure at this temperature. Fucoidan added at a concentration of 10 µg/mL reduced the S. typhimurium counts by nearly 1.84 log cycles after 48 h of refrigerated exposure, achieving bactericidal effects close to 2.50 log₁₀ cycles after only 5 days of incubation at this temperature. Fucoidan concentrations in the range 5–10 µg/mL were effective in reducing the initial S. typhimurium counts to undetectable levels after 7 days of refrigerated incubation, which corresponds to a significant bactericidal effect close to 5 log cycles. Fucoidan concentrations in the range 50–1000 µg/mL revealed a higher antimicrobial potential against this Gram-negative pathogen. Bacterial reductions in the range 0.65–1.5 log cycles were achieved after only 24 h of refrigerated incubation in MHB medium supplemented with 50–1000 µg/mL of fucoidan (see Figure 2).

After 5 days of incubation there was a reduction of 2.5 log cycles owing to exposure to 50–1000 µg/mL of fucoidan, and after 7 days of incubation in these supplemented matrices the S. typhimurium initial counts were reduced completely.

At the optimum growth temperature of the bacterium, 37 °C, fucoidan derived from Fucus vesiculosus showed a bacteriostatic effect, slowing down the growth rate of the bacterium and, consequently, the final levels during incubation, in comparison with the S. typhimurium counts observed in MHB control medium. Fucoidan concentrations in the range 5–50 µg/mL revealed a maximum bacteriostatic potential corresponding to 0.80 log cycles of bacterial growth inhibition after 7 days of incubation at 37 °C. The higher the fucoidan concentration added to the medium, the higher the bacteriostatic effect (p-value ≤ 0.05) exerted by this bioactive compound. Suspensions of fucoidan in the range 100–1000 µg/mL were effective in inhibiting S. typhimurium growth by 1.08 to 1.22 log cycle, even in the first hours of exposure (24–48 h). During the incubation period, the longer the exposure time, the greater the effectiveness of 1000 µg/mL as a bacteriostatic agent (p-value ≤ 0.05), inhibiting bacterial growth by a maximum of 1.37 ± 0.28 log cycles in comparison to the growth observed in the control suspensions (MHB without fucoidan supplementation).

It can be concluded that the antimicrobial potential of fucoidan against S. typhimurium is significantly influenced by the variables studied (fucoidan concentration, incubation temperature, and exposure time) (p-value ≤ 0.05), affecting the antimicrobial effectiveness of this compound. However, no significant increase in the antimicrobial capability of fucoidan was detected when the concentration added was increased from 100 to 1000 µg/mL.

3.3. Effectiveness of Fucoidan Derived from Fucus Vesiculosus against L. monocytogenes and S. typhimurium in a Newly Formulated Apple Juice Beverage

Given the observed bacteriostatic and bactericidal potential of fucoidan against L. monocytogenes and S. typhimurium in reference medium, the effectiveness of this compound was assessed in an apple juice-based beverage to determine the applicability of this ingredient to achieve functional (prebiotic and antioxidant) [5,23] and technological (preservative) objectives. Fucoidan was included in the formulation of the new beverage at concentrations of 25, 100, and 1000 μg/mL. Sterile UHT apple juice was used as a basic food matrix (pH = 4.3). The suspensions studied were maintained under the most disadvantageous conditions: slight abuse refrigeration temperature, 8 °C, for 12 days.

Figure 3 shows the results of growth/no growth of the bacterium in the food substrate studied when exposed to fucoidan. As can be seen graphically, L. monocytogenes was unable to grow in apple juice during the incubation period, despite which it remained viable at levels close to the initially inoculated values.

The addition of fucoidan at a concentration level of 25 μg/mL did not reveal any bactericidal effect against L. monocytogenes. Concentrations in the range 100–1000 μg/mL showed a low bactericidal effect; the longer the exposure time, the higher the bacterial reduction (p-value ≤ 0.05). Fucoidan added to apple juice at a concentration level of 100 μg/mL reduced the bacterial population by 0.40 ± 0.02 log cycles after 12 days of incubation. A fucoidan concentration of 1000 μg/mL proved effective in reducing the bacterial load in the food matrix to 0.70 ± 0.01 log cycles after an exposure time of 12 days at 8 °C.

In the non-supplemented beverage, S. typhimurium was reduced slightly (1 log cycle) during the 8 °C incubation period, probably owing to two factors, the low pH and the low temperature conditions. However, after 48 h of incubation under these refrigerated acid conditions, the bacterial counts stabilized and remained in a viable-culturable stage until the final storage period. These results agree with those previously presented by Lee et al. [24] and Alvarez-Ordóñez et al. [25] regarding the acid-tolerance capability of S. typhimurium cells (CECT 443) in stationary phase incubated at different temperatures. With regard to the antimicrobial potential of fucoidan against S. typhimurium in this novel beverage, it was observed that all the concentrations studied were able to reduce the initially inoculated bacterial levels completely. The bactericidal potential of 25 μg/mL of fucoidan was close to 1.5 log cycles after 2 days of exposure, and was close to 3.5. log cycles with 1000 μg/mL under the same incubation conditions (2 days, 8 °C). Significant differences in antimicrobial potential in the apple beverage were observed between the fucoidan concentrations of 100 and 1000 μg/mL (p-value ≤ 0.05); the higher the concentration added, the shorter the exposure time required to completely inactivate S. typhimurium in the food matrix. After 5 days of exposure incubated at 8 °C, the 1000 μg/mL fucoidan concentration was effective in reducing the S. typhimurium initial counts by 4 log cycles. Refrigerated incubation for 7 days was required to reduce the initially inoculated S. typhimurium bacterial levels completely when fucoidan was added at 100 μg/mL, and 25 μg/mL was completely effective in reducing S. typhimurium below detectable levels after incubation for 12 days at 8 °C.

Table 1 includes the fucoidan values that correspond to the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) against the pathogens studied. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that S. typhimurium was more sensitive to the effect of fucoidan than L. monocytogenes.

L. monocytogenes is more sensitive to the antimicrobial effect of fucoidan at the optimum growth incubation temperature, and is more resistant to the antimicrobial bioactivity of fucoidan at refrigeration temperature. This behavioural response could be connected with the activation by the bacterium, under adverse external conditions (such as low temperatures or acidity, among others), of protective mechanisms that protect the bacterial cells against the effect of fucoidan [26]. Changes in membrane permeability could interfere with the effect of fucoidan, since one of the main actions of this compound is exerted at membrane surface level, by binding with specific receptors [13,17]. In this case, the ability of the bacterium to alter membrane permeability in order to increase tolerance to low temperatures could also be connected with interference with the activity of fucoidan under refrigerated conditions. Similar results were obtained by Belda-Galbis, Leufvén, Martínez, Rodrigo [27] and Belda-Galbis, Jiménez-Carretón, Pina-Pérez, Martínez, Rodrigo [28] regarding the antimicrobial potential of other natural compounds, açaí and carvacrol, against Listeria innocua, and they were also more effective at the optimum growth temperature of Listeria spp. (37 °C).

On the other hand, S. typhimurium is able to grow slightly at 37 °C even under the effect of fucoidan, and a concentration of 100 μg/mL is required to inhibit the bacterial growth by nearly 1 log cycle. However, at refrigeration temperature, the effect of fucoidan against this Gram-negative pathogen is very strong, with a MBC of 10 μg/mL, reducing the initial inoculated bacterial counts by 1.25 ± 0.15 log cycles. In the apple beverage, 25 μg/mL is the MBC to achieve nearly 1 log cycle of S. typhimurium reduction in only 48 h at 8 °C.

In the case of exposure of L. monocytogenes to fucoidan, concentration levels ≥50 μg/mL at 8 °C act only as growth control factors against this pathogen. From a comparison of the results of the effectiveness of fucoidan in MHB (pH = 6.8) and in apple juice (pH = 4.3) at a refrigeration temperature of 8 °C, it can be concluded that the antimicrobial potential of fucoidan against L. monocytogenes is higher in the food matrix than in the reference medium. This could be due to the combined effect of low-pH and addition of fucoidan, both acting as hurdles against proliferation of L. monocytogenes.

With regard to the antimicrobial potential of fucoidan against S. typhimurium, this compound also showed a greater antimicrobial effect when it was included in the formulation of the new acidic functional apple beverage. Inactivation levels close to 2 log cycles were achieved after 48 h of bacterial exposure to a concentration of 100 μg/mL of fucoidan in the beverage, whereas 5 days of exposure were required in the reference medium to achieve the same level of microbial reduction.

From a technological point of view, the addition of fucoidan in a concentration range of 100–1000 μg/mL to this acidic apple-based beverage is presented as an effective measure for the control of L. monocytogenes, these levels being effective to guarantee reduction of the growing population by up to a maximum of nearly 1 log₁₀ cycle during the period of commercialization of this pasteurized product (12 days under refrigeration). Furthermore, the quality of the organoleptic properties of the apple juice remains intact after the addition of fucoidan (25–1000 μg/mL). To date, little information has been published about the physico-chemical changes induced in food matrices as a result of the addition of fucoidan extracts [29]. The physico-chemical and functional (antioxidant, gastroprotective, anti-inflammatory) properties of fucoidan depend on its molecular weight, structure, and concentration; and they vary depending on the source of the fucoidans, the harvest period, and the extraction methods [30]. Therefore, the impact of fucoidan extracts on the sensory properties of this novel food formulation will also depend on these specific features of fucoidan, and it should be optimized for the matrix in which the fucoidan is incorporated. The main physico-chemical changes in apple juice expected as a result of the addition of fucoidan could be increases in the lightness (L value), viscosity (mPas), and turbidity of the liquid at high concentrations, accompanied by increases in the total soluble solids and the antioxidant potential of the juice [31].

Furthermore, from a functional point of view, according to the work of Hwang et al. [23], the use of both low and high molecular weight fucoidans at concentrations in the range of 50–100 µg/mL has a prebiotic potential, stimulating the growth of Bifidobacterium lactis in an in vitro model using Caco-2 cells. The adhesion of Bifidobacterium spp. cells to the gastrointestinal tract is increased by the intervention of fucoidans, which act as key determinants in the initialization of probiotic immunomodulatory activity [23]. Moreover, the antioxidant potential of fucoidans has been well demonstrated in vitro and in vivo, and fucoidan has even been incorporated in real food matrices, such as meat products [29].

4. Conclusions

The present study shows the effectiveness of fucoidan derived from Fucus vesiculosus brown algae as a natural antimicrobial against L. monocytogenes and S. typhimurium. This compound acts with a bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect at 37 °C against L. monocytogenes, depending on the concentration added and the exposure time. At lower temperatures, close to refrigeration, when added at concentrations ≥100 μg/mL, after 7 days of exposure fucoidan only exerted a bacteriostatic potential. Higher antimicrobial effectiveness of fucoidan was observed against S. typhimurium, with a MBC of 25 μg/mL in a novel apple-based beverage.

The results obtained in the present study open up new possibilities for research on the use of this natural compound as a sustainable bioactive ingredient to be added for the purpose of food preservation.