Natural antimicrobials from fruits and plant extract for food packaging and preservation

Natural antimicrobial agents extracted from fruits and plants are used to develop active food packaging materials that improve the self-life of the food product. This chapter discusses various plant-based natural extracts such as essential oils (eugenol, vanillin, thymol, carvacrol, citral, and cinnamaldehyde), plant extracts (tannins, anthocyanins, coumarins, allicin, alkaloids, and antimicrobial peptides), and their food packaging applications. In addition, the antimicrobial-loaded nanocarriers (nanoemulsions, nanoliposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, and biopolymeric nanocarriers) are illustrated for food packaging applications. These natural plant-based extracts are used for the development of active /smart food packaging materials that enhance the mechanical and antimicrobial, antioxidant properties of the film. However, antimicrobial-loaded nanocarriers-based food packaging materials have prolonged antimicrobial activities with a slow-release rate making them much more effective and enhance the self-life of the food product. Natural antimicrobials in packaging materials are non-toxic, eco-friendly, and maintain consistency and sensory qualities of food over time, which has great potency for further studies.