Abdorreza Mohammadi Nafchi
Islamic Azad University, Iran
Title: Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Mechanical, and Physicochemical Properties of CMC based films incorporated of lemon verbena essential oil
Biography
Biography: Abdorreza Mohammadi Nafchi
Abstract
Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) based films incorporated with lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) essential oil (LVEO) at 1, 2 and 3% v/w were prepared to examine their antibacterial, antioxidant, physical and mechanical properties. The physical and mechanical properties were determined in accordance with the ASTM standard methods. Addition of LVEO affected the oxygen and water vapor permeability of the films. Incorporating LVEO, increased color parameters and decreased lightness of films. A decrease of young modulus (YM) and tensile strength (TS) accompanied with an increase in elongation at break (%EB) was observed with increasing LVEO concentration. These films exhibited some antioxidant activity, which was significantly improved by the addition of the essential oil. This incorporation influenced antimicrobial, antioxidant, physical, mechanical, barrier, microstructure and color properties of the films. The films prepared with LV essential oil exhibited highest inhibition against E. coli and were more effective against Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli) than Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus). The results pointed out that the incorporation of LVEO as a natural antibacterial agent has potential focusing the developed film as an active packaging.