Goldenberries, also known as cape gooseberries, are small golden fruits valued for their carotenoids, vitamin C, and diverse phytochemicals. Researchers are exploring whether these fruits may have applications beyond their nutritional value. A 2026 laboratory study tested the effects of goldenberry juice on several foodborne pathogens and bacteria commonly used as probiotics.
The Study
Researchers prepared goldenberry juice and added it to laboratory broth, skim milk, and whole milk at a concentration of 10%. They then monitored bacterial growth over 72 hours, taking measurements at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours.
Four disease-causing bacteria were tested: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes. The researchers also examined five beneficial probiotic and lactic acid bacteria, including Lactobacillus plantarum, L. rhamnosus, and L. acidophilus.
The Results
Goldenberry juice showed a strikingly selective effect. It significantly suppressed all four pathogenic bacteria, with reductions generally ranging from about 1-3 log CFU/mL in the tested systems. S. aureus and L. monocytogenes were particularly sensitive.
At the same time, the juice supported rather than suppressed the beneficial bacteria. Probiotic and lactic acid bacteria increased by approximately 1-4 log CFU/mL, depending on the strain and experimental conditions.
What Does this Mean?
These findings suggest that goldenberries may have natural antimicrobial properties and potential as a functional food ingredient with a dual action: discouraging certain unwanted microorganisms while supporting beneficial ones. Its acidity and naturally occurring phenolic and flavonoid compounds may contribute to these effects, although the precise mechanisms remain unclear.
This was a laboratory food-system study, not a human trial. The researchers emphasize that additional work is needed to determine how goldenberry juice performs during real food storage and whether it can extend shelf life.
Other fruits rich in bioactive compounds, including blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, and raspberries, have also been investigated for antimicrobial properties.1
