Journal of Fisheries Science and Technology

Journal of Fisheries Science and Technology

Evaluation of antimicrobial properties and diffusion of carvacrol from active zein films for food packaging applications

Abstract
The aim of this study was assess the application of carvacrol at 5 and 10% levels in production of the zein film and evaluation of its antimicrobial properties, and also kinetics release of carvacrol from active film (10%w/w) in food simulants of acetic acidand ethanol at different temperatures by using high performance liquid chromatography from. Diffusion and the activation energy (Ea) values of zein film containing 10% carvacrol were calculated based on Fick’s second law. Results showed that by increasing temperature from 4 to 37°C, the extent of releasing after 60 min in acid simulant (9.82 ± 1.34 to 40.78 ± 0.06 %(, and ethanol simulant (11.80 ± 1.34 to 47.44 ± 0.06%) was increased. The diffusion value of carvacrol at 4, 22 and 37°C in acetic acid simulant was determined 0.23, 1.20 and 6.70 m.s, respectively. The Ea value for carvacrol diffusion in 3% acetic acid simulant (72.75 kJmol-1) was lower than in ethanol simulant (79.73 kJ mol-1). The antibacterial activity of zein films was studied against Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenesin at 4 and 37°C. The zein films containing 5% carvacrol produced a good bactericidal effect. It was observed total inhibition against Escherichia coli by incorporating 10% carvacrol in zein film at both temperatures. This work suggested that the zein bioplastics containing carvacrol can be used as an active packaging for improving the safety and shelf-life of food products.
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