Physical Properties, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Chitosan Films Containing Carvacrol and Pomegranate Peel Extract

Title

Physical Properties, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Chitosan Films Containing Carvacrol and Pomegranate Peel Extract 

Author ,  
Gaofeng Yuan 1,2, Hua Lv 2, Bingjie Yang 2,  Xiaoe Chen 1,2 and Haiyan Sun 1,2,* 

1 Key Laboratory of Health Risk Factors for Seafood of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China

2 College of Food and Medicine, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang 316022, China

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. 

Academic Editor: Derek J. McPhee

Received: 4 May 2015 / Revised: 8 June 2015 / Accepted: 9 June 2015 / Published: 15 June 2015

Abstract

Chitosan-based active films were developed by incorporation of carvacrol (10 g/L), pomegranate peel extract (PPE, 10 g/L) and carvacrol + PPE (10 g/L of each) and their physical, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties were investigated. Incorporation of carvacrol and carvacrol + PPE into the films significantly decreased the water vapor permeability, tensile strength and percentage of elongation at break. Incorporation of carvacrol, PPE and carvacrol + PPE into the films decreased the transparency, but significantly increased the total phenol content and antioxidant activity. All the films, with the exception of PPE-incorporated film, exhibited antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, the antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus of the film incorporated with carvacrol + PPE was moderately higher than that incorporated with carvacrol or PPE alone, suggesting a synergistic action between carvacrol and PPE.

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http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/20/6/11034?trendmd-shared=0