Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
BIOLOGY BULLETIN, cilt.1, sa.1, ss.1-15, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Olive mill wastewater (OMWW) is commonly regarded as an environmental pollutant. However, its rich content of phenolic compounds provides it with considerable antimicrobial potential. This study aims to biologically valorize OMWW by investigating its potential use as a natural antimicrobial agent. Phenolic compound-rich extracts obtained from OMWW were evaluated for their antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and membrane-disruptive effects. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was tested against a range of standard microorganisms using the disk diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Their phenolic profiles were analyzed through High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Antibiofilm activity was assessed using the microplate biofilm assay, while membrane integrity was evaluated by measuring the release of intracellular components at absorbance wavelengths of 260 and 280 nm. The extracts exhibited both bacteriostatic and bactericidal/fungicidal effects, with varying MIC and MBC/MFC values. In biofilm formation assays, the extracts significantly inhibited biofilm development at MIC and sub-MIC concentrations. The membrane integrity tests confirmed cellular membrane damage, as indicated by increased absorbance values due to the leakage of intracellular materials. Additionally, growth kinetics analysis of Staphylococcus aureus demonstrated that the extracts inhibited bacterial proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings indicate that OMWW is not merely an environmental waste product but also a promising source of natural antimicrobial agents. In this context, the study offers new perspectives for sustainable waste management and the industrial application of bioactive compounds