ABSTRACT To combat pathogens and reduce the major public health problem of antibiotic residues in animal products, scientists are looking for natural antibiotic substitutes that are effective against drug-resistant pathogenic microbes and spoilage fungi. The antimicrobial activity of three Cinnamomum verum extracts prepared with three different solvents (absolute ethanol, 50% ethanol, and aqueous extracts) was determined against two Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes) and two Gram-negative bacteria (Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli) as well as two fungal strains. The antimicrobial activities of various Cinnamomum verum extracts against selected microbes were evaluated using the disc diffusion test, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC), minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFC), and the poisoned food technique. Cinnamomum verum bark (CVB) extracts inhibited and killed microbial growth to varying degrees. Our findings also revealed that extracts prepared with alcoholic solvents, particularly absolute ethanol-CVB extract, were more active compared with aqueous solvents, suggesting that the cinnamon plant is a promising natural antimicrobial agent for food preservation.

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to assess egg quality by identifying quality grades and weight class classification of fresh commercial Table eggs marketed in the city of Riyadh during winter and the summer seasons, and comparing the measured traits rendering to the Gulf Cooperation Council Standardization Organization. A total of 480 eggs were purchased from two different channels of marketing, four supermarkets and four grocery stores located in different areas of the city of Riyadh during summer and the winter seasons. It appeared from the outcomes that the eggs purchased from the supermarkets had significantly higher AA and A Haugh units, albumin pH and AA air cell grades and medium egg weight class, and they also had lower B and C Haugh units, albumen pH, A and B air cell depth grades, and very large, large and small eggs weight classes percentages than those obtained from grocery stores. Over and above, the eggs obtained in the winter had significantly higher AA and A Haugh unit, albumin pH, AA air cell depth grades percentages, very large and large egg weight class percentages, and had less B and C Haugh unit and albumen pH and B air cell depth grades and small weight class percentages than those obtained in the summer. In summary, marketing channels and season play a significant role in affecting quality traits of Table eggs, also those procured from supermarkets and in the winter presented better quality than those obtained from groceries or in the summer, respectively. Grocery stores or small shops have to follow proper handling and storage conditions requirements to maintain good quality of Table eggs, especially in the summer season.

ABSTRACT Very sparse information is available regarding quality of commercial Table eggs marketed in Riyadh city. The objective of the current study was to evaluate egg quality by determining the internal and external traits of commercial Table eggs marketed in different marketing channels during the summer and winter. Commercial eggs (n = 1440) were bought from four different supermarkets and groceries during the winter and summer season 2018- 2019. A total of 30 eggs were collected monthly from each marketing channel in the winter and summer. Then, individually numbered, weighed and randomly broken down into three empirical groups and stored for 0, 7 or 14 days. The outcomes show that seven and fourteen days of storage led to significant decrease in Haugh unit values, yolk index, specific gravity, shell thickness and shell weight per unit of surface area, and increase in yolk color grade, yolk albumin ratio, yolk and albumin pH and air cell depth. Eggs acquired from supermarkets had significantly higher Haugh unit values and yolk index, and lower yolk color grades, shell density and air cell depth, than those bought from groceries. Eggs that were collected in winter season are found to have significantly higher Haugh unit values, yolk index, specific gravity, shell thickness, shell density, shell weight per unit of surface area and yolk color, and lower, yolk albumin ratio, air cell depth, albumin and yolk pH than those acquired in the summer season eggs. This study showed that the storage period, marketing channels and season play a significant role in affecting quality traits of Table eggs, also those procured from supermarkets and in the winter presented better quality than those found in groceries or in the summer, respectively.