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. 2023 Oct 24;9(11):e21196. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21196

Table 1.

Overview of application phytochemicals and bioactive constituents as antimicrobial agents used in food packaging.

Phytochemicals and bioactive constituents Packaging approach Antimicrobial effects Food products References
Tea polyphenols (TP) Incorporation of tea polyphenol to polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) Gradual increase in bacteriostatic rates of the bacteria (E. coli, S. aureus), and molds (B. cinerea, Rhizopus) Strawberries [98]
Cinnamaldehyde (CI) or TP Incorporation in polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene adipate (PBAT) and starch blends by extrusion technique Effective inhibition of the growth of E. coli and S. aureus at 4 °C, reducing 3.6 and 4.1 log CFU/g on day 10, respectively Meat analogues [99]
TP Incorporation in poly (vinyl alcohol)/ethyl cellulose nanofibrous films with the blending electrospinning technique Inhibition rates of 15.84–88.39 % against E. coli and 21.10-.69 % against S. aureus Meat [100]
Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) Addition of the compounds to a blend film of poly(lactide) (PLA) and poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) Reduction of microbial growth around 2.02, 2.82, and 2.06 log CFU/g for E. coli, and 1.59, 1.77, and 1.47 log CFU/g for S. aureus in onion, cabbage, and carrot after 7 days of storage at 10 °C, respectively Fresh-cut vegetables (onion, cabbage, and carrot) [101]
Rambutan peel extract and cinnamon oil Rambutan peel extract and cinnamon oil incorporated into cassava starch and whey protein blend films Reduction of microbial growth with TVC up to 5.1 log cfu∙g−1 in salami at 10 days. Slices of salami [102]
TP Vacuum package combined with tea polyphenols (V + TP) TVC of V + TP group reach 5.82 log CFU/g, significantly lower control Weever (Micropterus salmoides) [103]
Polyphenol-rich kiwi peel extracts and silver nanoparticles Sodium alginate-based nanocomposite films enhanced by polyphenol-rich kiwi peel extracts bio-reduced silver nanoparticles Excellent antibacterial activities against S. aureus and E. coli. Fresh cherries [104]
Eugenol (EUG), carvacrol (CAR) and trans-anethole (ANT) Cellulose (CE) and polypropylene (PP) pillow packages inserted with eugenol, carvacrol and trans-anethole Reductions of microbial growth of −1.38, −0.91 and −0.93 (Δlog CFUg−1), respectively, with CAR, EUG and ANT_CE packages Organic ready-to-eat iceberg lettuce [105]
TP Chitosan/halloysite nanotubes/tea polyphenol composites Maximum rate of blueberry decay in the CS/HNTs-TP group was only 59 %, lower than control group, 87 %. Fresh blueberries [106]
Olive mill wastewater phenols capping ZnO nanoparticles Carboxymethylcellulose incorporating olive mill wastewater phenols capping ZnO nanoparticles Decrease in the weight loss and the rotting ratio of fresh strawberry, and at least 4 days of shelf life extension under 25 °C Fresh strawberry [107]
Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel extract Nano-encapsulation with alginate nanospheres to PPE Total count value of 6.5 log CFU/g after 14 days storage, within the acceptable range of ICMSF Chicken meat [108]

Legend: E. coli: Escherichia coli; S. aureus: Staphylococcus aureus; B. cinerea: Botrytis cinerea; CFU: colony-forming unit; V + TP: vacuum package combined with tea polyphenols; TVC: total viable counts; EUG: eugenol; CAR: carvacrol; ANT-CE: trans-anethole inserted into cellulose; ICMSF: International Commission on Microbiological Specification for Foods.