Plant-derived Natural Products against Listeria monocytogenes: Antibiofilm Activity, Quorum Sensing Modulation, and Application in the Food Industry

Listeria monocytogenes biofilms represent a persistent contaminant in the food industry, greatly increasing the risk of listeriosis outbreaks and posing a serious threat to human health. The formation of biofilm is an important mechanism of resistance in L. monocytogenes , extensively mediated by the quorum sensing (QS) system. Plant-derived natural products have been demonstrated to inhibit biofilm formation by disrupting bacterial QS. This review focuses on the QS regulation of biofilm development in L. monocytogenes , the antibiofilm activities of phytochemicals such as terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, as well as their mechanisms of QS inhibition. Furthermore, we summarized the applications of QS inhibitors (QSIs) in controlling L. monocytogenes in the food industry, including disinfection of equipment, addition to foods directly or embedded in micro and nanocarriers, and incorporation into active films and coatings. This review provides insights into the advancement and application of plant-derived QSIs in controlling L. monocytogenes for food safety.