In agreement with the current trend of giving value to natural and renewable resources, the use of natural antimicrobial compounds, particularly in food and biomedical applications, becomes very frequent. The direct addition of natural compounds to food is the most common method of application, even if numerous efforts have been made to find alternative solutions to the aim of avoiding undesirable inactivation. Dipping, spraying and coating treatment of food with active solutions are currently applied to product prior to packaging as valid options. The aim of the current work is to give an overview on the use of natural compounds in food sector. In particular, the review will gather numerous case-studies of meat, fish, dairy products, minimally processed fruit and vegetables and cereal-based products where these compounds found application.

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Food applications of natural antimicrobial compounds

Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of essential oils have previously been extensively reviewed. The mechanisms of action of essential oils have not been clearly identified but they seem to be related with their hydrophobic nature. Applying these natural compounds in the food industry could be a potential alternative, but its application costs and other problems, such as their intense aroma and potential toxicity, limit their use in the area of food preservation. An interesting strategy to reduce doses of essential oils while maintaining their effectiveness could be the incorporation of these natural compounds into edible/biodegradable films. This review discusses the use of essential oils as natural antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds to obtain bioactive films or coatings. The advantages and limitations are also reviewed.

https://www.utm.mx/postgrado/MCPNyAl/Evaluacion2014/C1-Estructura%20y%20personal%20academico/1.2%20Proceso%20de%20ensenianza-aprendizaje/1.2.2%20Evaluacion%20del%20desempenio%20academico/Procesadodealimentos/Articulos/fer-2011-1.pdf

Use of Essential Oils in Bioactive Edible Coatings: A Review

Effect of quince seed mucilage edible films incorporated with oregano or thyme essential oil on shelf life extension of refrigerated rainbow trout fillets.

Effects of antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of spice extracts on raw chicken meat quality

Antimicrobial and antioxidant effects of nanoemulsions containing herb oils (rosemary, laurel, thyme and sage) on the quality of rainbow trout were investigated. Fish fillets were immersed for 3 min in the nanoemulsions prepared with different oils. During 24 days of storage, sensory (raw and cooked), chemical (TBA (thiobarbituric acid), pH, TVB-N (total volatile basic nitrogen), PV (peroxide value), FFA (free fatty acids)) and microbiological quality (total mesophilic aerobic and psychrophilic aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae count) of rainbow trout fillets in ice at 2 ± 2 °C were carried out. Nanoemulsions of essential oils enhanced organoleptic quality of rainbow trout. Shelf life of rainbow trout was found as 14 days for the control, 17 days for the treatment groups. The use of nanoemulsions based on all essential oils reduced the values of the biochemical parameters and slowed down the growth of bacteria. TVB-N values were lower in all samples than limit value. FFA and PV developed at a slower rate in the treated groups, especially in the rosemary group. The lowest bacterial numbers were obtained from rosemary followed by thyme group. Among the essential oils, it can be concluded that rosemary and thyme can be recommended for nanoemulsion as a preservative for fish fillets.

Evaluation of effects of nanoemulsion based on herb essential oils (rosemary, laurel, thyme and sage) on sensory, chemical and microbiological quality of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillets during ice storage

L. Frangos

Papers

Combined effects of salting, oregano oil and vacuum-packaging on the shelf-life of refrigerated trout fillets.