Planta Med 2011; 77 - PE28
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1282359

Investigation on Development of Zein Antimicrobial Edible Film and Essential oil of Zataria multiflora Boiss. on Salmonella enteritidis, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus

S Ghasemi 1, K Khosravi Darani 1, N Haji Seyed Javadi 1, M Moradi 2, A Oromiehie 3, S Esmaeili 4
  • 1Department of Food Technology Research, National Nutrition & Food Technology Research Institute, Shaheed Beheshti Medical University. P.O.Box: 19395–4741 Tehran, Iran
  • 2Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Uromia University, P.O. Box: 1177, Uromia, Iran
  • 3Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute, Pajouhesh Blvd, km-15, Tehran-Karaj Freeway, Tehran, Iran
  • 4Traditional Medicine & Materia Medica Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences P.O.Box 14155–6354, Tehran, Iran

Active packaging is a type of packaging that can control or react to things arranged inside (2). An antimicrobial Active Packaging is made by incorporating antimicrobial agents in food packages. Zataria multiflora Boiss. is a plant that belongs to the Lamiaceae family and grows only in Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan (1). The antimicrobial activities of the plant are also well established against a wide variety of bacteria (3).

In this study zein is based on the films that contain essential oil of Zataria multiflora (0, %1, %2, %3 and %4 w/v) and glycerol (%30 v/v). The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the edible film in inhibiting Salmonella enteritidis, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli 0157: H7 and staphylococcus aureus. The bacterial strains were transferred onto the surface of nutrient agar plates using sterile swabs, and then discs of zein films containing different percent of the essential oil of the zataria multiflira put onto the surface of the plates. After that incubated overnight at 37°C. Finally after 24 hours the inhibitory zones was measured with calliper. Overall, there was a decline in the test organisms that was generally increased in the presence of the Zataria multiflora Boiss' essential oil. The mentioned bacteria showed significant reductions in bacterial survival in the higher extract concentration.

To conclude zein antimicrobial edible film and Zataria multiflora essential oil might help to decrease the risk of food borne illness related to these microorganisms.

References: 1. Ali MS et al (2000) Phytochemistry 55: 933–936

2. Del Nobile MA et al. (2009) Journal of Dairy Research 10: 1–6

3. Palmer A S et al (2001) Food Microbiology 18: 463–470