Essential oils as natural antimicrobials for application in edible coatings for minimally processed apple and melon: A review on antimicrobial activity and characteristics of food models

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to prepare alginate and chitosan-based edible coatings incorporating Schinus terebinthifolia and Piper nigrum essential oils. The prepared films were applied on minimally processed pineapple to study the microbial inhibition of Gram + and Gram – bacteria and fungi and to evaluate the shelf life of the minimally processed fruit.Design/methodology/approachIn this study alginate and chitosan-based edible coating were prepared and applied on minimally processed pineapple. The edible coatings were evaluated microscopically, by the power of reducing microbial contamination, by the shelf-life improvement.FindingsThis study demonstrates that the incorporation of the essential oils P. nigrum and S. terebinthifolia contributed to the inhibition of all the microorganisms studied and improved the shelf life of minimally processed pineapple. This is especially true for P. nigrum in the chitosan-based edible coating, where the shelf life was improved by 45 days.Research limitations/implicationsBecause of the pandemic, it was not possible to perform the sensory analyses of the antimicrobial alginate and chitosan-based edible coatings prepared.Practical implicationsFrom the results obtained, it is possible to state that the antimicrobial alginate and chitosan-based edible coatings incorporating S. terebinthifolia and P. nigrum essential oils can be used on minimally processed fruits and prolong their shelf life.Social implicationsDue to the lifestyle of modern consumers, who demand speed and practicality and the need to consume fruits for health and quality of life, minimally processed fruits covered with edible coatings incorporating natural antimicrobial additives can provide a practical solution.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that alginate and chitosan-based edible coatings that incorporate P. nigrum and S. terebinthifolia applied on minimally processed fruit, have been studied.

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Effects of Natural Antimicrobials on Xanthomonas Strains Growth

Horticulturae ◽

10.3390/horticulturae8010007 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 7

Author(s):

Irena Mačionienė ◽

Dovilė Čepukoit ◽

Joana Šalomskienė ◽

Darius Černauskas ◽

Daiva Burokienė ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Activity ◽

Essential Oils ◽

Lactobacillus Helveticus ◽

Mentha Piperita ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Thymus Vulgaris ◽

Aqueous Extracts ◽

Bacterial Strains ◽

Natural Antimicrobials ◽

Inhibition Zones

The aim of this work was to investigate the most promising natural antimicrobials effective for the growth suppression of Xanthomonas spp. bacteria. The research objects were Xanthomonas spp. strains isolated from tubers and stem of plants growing in Lithuania: Xanthomonas translucens NRCIB X6, X. arboricola NRCIB X7, NRCIB X8, NRCIB X9, and NRCIB X10; the supernatants of lactic acid bacteria Lactococcus lactis strains 140/2, 57, and 768/5, Lactobacillus helveticus strains 14, 148/3, R, and 3, Lb. reuteri 3 and 7, Streptococcus thermophilus 43, Enterococcus faecium 59-30 and 41-2; endophytic bacterial strains Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Paenibacillus spp.; and essential oils of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), pine (Pinus sylvestris), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), peppermint (Mentha piperita), lemon (Citrus limetta), aqueous extracts of blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus), and cranberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea). The antimicrobial activity of tested substances was determined by agar diffusion method. Supernatants of Lb. reuteri strain 7 and Lb. helveticus strains 14, R, 3, and 148/3 were found to have a high antimicrobial activity against Xanthomonas spp. bacteria strains when compared to the positive control—1.0% copper sulfate (diameter of inhibition zones was 28.8 ± 0.7 mm). The diameter of inhibition zones of supernatants ranged from 23.3 ± 0.6 mm to 32.0 ± 0.1 mm. Thyme (2.0%) and lavender (2.0%) essential oils inhibited the growth of Xanthomonas spp. strains. The diameter of the inhibition zones was from 14.7 ± 0.8 mm to 22.8 ± 0.9 mm. The aqueous extracts of blueberries had a weak antimicrobial activity. The diameter of inhibition zones ranged from 11.0 ± 0.2 mm to 13.0 ± 0.2 mm.

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Edible active coatings incorporated with Cinnamomum cassia and Myristica fragrans essential oils to improve shelf-life of minimally processed apples

Ciência Rural ◽

10.1590/0103-8478cr20180447 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 48 (12) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sabrina Miqueletti dos Santos ◽

Geoffroy Roger Pointer Malpass ◽

Mônica Hitomi Okura ◽

Ana Claudia Granato

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Essential Oils ◽

Shelf Life ◽

Enzymatic Browning ◽

Edible Coatings ◽

Minimally Processed ◽

E Coli ◽

Cinnamomum Cassia ◽

Penicillium Commune ◽

Sensory Tests

ABSTRACT: The effect of the incorporation of cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) and nut meg (Myristicafragrans) essential oils in alginate-based edible coatings that were applied on minimally processed apples, is reported. The minimum inhibitory concentrations were 1.25mg.mL-1 (cinnamon) and 2.50mg.mL-1 (nutmeg), against both Escherichia coli and Penicillium commune. Over storage periods there was a significant reduction in the E. coli and P. commune counts compared to the control. The extent of enzymatic browning was also significantly reduced in the coated samples. In the coated minimally processed apples sensory tests, the flavor had the lowest rating of the properties analyzed, for both treatments, followed by aroma and firmness.

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