Changes in growth kinetics and motility characteristics of Escherichia coli in the presence of sulphoraphane isolated from broccoli seed meal

Summary In this investigation, the purified sulphoraphane from broccoli seed meal was evaluated in a range of 5–400 μg mL−1 against Escherichia coli. The results showed that levels above 200 μg mL−1 can inhibit 100% growth of 106 CFU mL−1 up to 5 h and cause a deformation of sigmoid behaviour in the growth kinetics, and even the bacterial population is reduced. On the other hand, low sulphoraphane levels such as 5–25 μg mL−1 also have effects on the bacterium, such as the decrease in the maximum specific growth rate and the loss of ability to adjust to a growth model when maintained in isothermal conditions. In addition, sulphoraphane has an effect on swimming motility and swarming motility in semi‐solid medium. The interaction of natural sulphoraphane–E. coli and the effect in the short periods can draw attention in research on food science and technology. We present a basic microbiology study focused on the effect of natural sulphoraphane on the rapid growth and motility of the resistant E. coli strain ATCC 25922. Sulphoraphane has an effect on E. coli in short periods that can draw attention to research on food science and technology.