Forty young bulls were finished in feedlot with diets that contained different dosages of a combination of several natural additives (NA), i.e., clove essential oil, cashew and castor oil, and rumen-protected eugenol, vanillin, and thymol. The animals were randomized in five diets containing four different inclusion levels of NA and a control diet (n = 8 animals per treatment): basal diet without NA (CON); NA15 = 1500 mg/day; NA30 = 3000 mg/day; NA45 = 4500 mg/day, and NA60 = basal diet with 6000 mg/day of the natural additives blend. Colour, antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays), lipid oxidation, and visual acceptability were evaluated through display (until 14 d in vacuum or film packages). Both factors (diet and display) affected all parameters evaluated. The highest dosage, NA60, was able to improve the antioxidant potential, decreasing beef oxidation to produce a higher visual acceptability. The results of this research provide evidence that NA included in the diet of beef cattle can improve overall meat quality and extend shelf-life, thus, providing higher visual acceptability through the colour perception of consumers.

Os óleos essenciais são metabólitos secundários dos vegetais com propriedades biológicas diferenciadas, dentre elas, a atividade contra microrganismos, sendo de interesse da indústria de alimentos as concentrações mínimas inibitórias (CMI) desses óleos para diversas bactérias. As CMI variam em função dos compostos majoritários e da espécie de bactéria. Nesta pesquisa, os óleos essenciais das plantas Satureja montana L., Cymbopogon nardus L. e Citrus limonia Osbeck foram caracterizados quimicamente e se determinou a CMI sobre as bactérias Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 2592 e Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. A CMI dos óleos testados contra E. coli e S. aureus foi de 1,5%, exceto para o óleo essencial de S. montana sobre S. aureus, a qual foi sensível a este óleo a partir da concentração de 5,0%. Sobre a constituição química, os componentes majoritários dos óleos de S. montana, C. narduse C. limonia Osbeck foram respectivamente o timol, citronelal e limoneno.

Essential oils are plant secondary metabolites with different biological properties, such as activity against microorganisms, being of major interest to the food industry. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of these oils for various bacteria should be determined. The MICvaries according to the oil used by the major compounds and phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of the bacteria. In this research, the essential oils of the plants Satureja montana L., Cymbopogon nardus L. and Citrus limonia Osbeck were chemically characterized and the MIC of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureusATCC 2592 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, determined. The MICfor all oils against E. coli was 1.5%, and S. aureus was sensitive to the concentration of 5.0% of S. montanaoil and tothe concentration of 1.5% of the essential oils of the other plants.Chemically, the major components ofthe S. montana, C. nardus and C.limonia Osbeck oils were respectively thymol, citronellal and limonene.

Os óleos essenciais são metabólitos secundários vegetais com propriedades biológicas diferenciadas, dentre elas a atividade contra microrganismos, sendo de importante interesse para a indústria de alimentos. As concentrações mínimas inibitórias (CMI) desses óleos para diversas bactérias devem ser determinadas. As CMI variam de acordo com o óleo utilizado, dos compostos majoritários e do tipo de bactéria. Nesta pesquisa, os óleos essenciais das plantas Satureja montana L., Cymbopogon nardus L. e Citrus limonia Osbeck foram caracterizados quimicamente e determinada a CMI sobre as bactérias Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 2592 e Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. A CMI para todos os óleos contra E. coli foi 1,5%, já S. aureus foi sensível a partir da concentração de 5,0% do óleo essencial de S. montana e 1,5% foi a CMI obtida quando utilizados os óleos essenciais das outras espécies estudadas. Na constituição química os componentes majoritários para os óleos de S. montana, C. narduse C. limonia Osbeck foram respectivamente o timol, citronelal e limoneno.

Essential oils are plant secondary metabolites with different biological properties, such as action against microorganisms, being majorly important to the food industry. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (CMI) of these oils for several bacteria should be determined. CMIs vary according to the oil used, the major compounds and the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of the bacteria. In this research, the essential oils of the plants Satureja montana L., Cymbopogon nardus L. and Citrus limonia Osbeck were chemically characterized, and CMI was determined for the Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 2592 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 bacteria. The CMI for all oils against E. coli was at 1.5%, and S. aureus was sensitive to the 5.0% concentration of the S. montana oil, and the CMI achieved was equivalent to 1.5% when essential oils of other plants were used. In the chemical composition, the major components for the S. montana, C. nardus and C.limonia Osbeck oils were thymol, citronellal and limonene, respectively.