Potency evaluation of a dermaseptin S4 derivative for antimicrobial food packaging applications

Abstract

Antimicrobial packaging is part of the broader area of active packaging, in which the package absorbs/releases different compounds during the product's storage and plays a major role in maintaining quality, extending shelf-life and improving the product's safety. Antimicrobial packages are capable of inhibiting the detrimental effects of spoiling microorganisms in food products. There has been very great interest in antimicrobial packaging in recent years and many such packaging materials have been proposed, some of which containing synthetic additives and others natural additives. In the present study, antimicrobial materials containing the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) dermaseptin K 4 K 20 -S4, which shows cytolytic activity in vitro against a broad spectrum of pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, protozoa, yeast and filamentous fungi, were investigated. The study was aimed at evaluating the potency of this AMP as an antimicrobial agent for antimicrobial food packaging in two forms: (a) an aqueous solution of AMP was applied onto a polyethylene shrink-wrapping film; (b) the AMP was incorporated in a corn starch-based coating and applied directly onto the foodstuff (fresh cucumbers). Of these two versions, the latter has shown a greater efficiency against moulds and aerobic bacteria, even at lower surface concentrations of AMP (4.5 mg/dm 2 vs. 3.5-3.8 mg/dm 2 ) in the coating. While in the first version the AMP had slowed down the growth of microorganisms only slightly, incorporation of AMP into the coating caused a reduction in their concentration practically to zero.

Control of Salmonella in foods by using essential oils: A review

“…Recently, the packaging films containing natural antimicrobials have been used extensively to maintain the shelf-life of the packed food produces (Iseppi et al, 2008;Miltz, Rydlo, Mor, & Polyakov, 2006;Plackett & Ghambari-Siahkali, 2007). In fact, the antimicrobial efficacy of PEOs has been well-known from the last many years using PEOs in food packaging actively (Gutierrez, Sanchez, Batlle, & Nerin, 2009;Lopez, Sanchez, Batlle, & Nerın, 2007;Matan et al, 2006;Rodriguez, Nerın, & Batlle, 2008).…”

Traceability of Active Compounds of Essential Oils in Antimicrobial Food Packaging Using a Chemometric Method by ATR-FTIR

“…In these technologies, researchers are developing food packaging materials such as synthetic films [10] [11] [12] and edible films [16]- [22] with antimicrobial properties. Polymers are effective vehicles for the active substances [23], giving the possibility to incorporate different antimicrobial additives [1] [24] [25] [26].…”

Antimicrobial and antioxidant active packaging for meat and poultry

“…Also, the public tends to believe that the use of synthetic additives, including antimicrobials, may cause side-effects and there is a continuing demand from the consumer point of view, for 'natural' additives (Castellano et al , 2008;Miltz et al , 2006). However, 'natural' does not necessarily mean 'non-toxic' from a health perspective in every case.…”

“…Stricter requirements regarding consumer safety are spurring the development of new approaches to and strategies for food preservation in the food and packaging industries (Miltz et al , 2006). Changes in consumer preferences in recent years, such as the growth in the chilled ready-meals market and increase in consumer demand for safe, minimally processed, preservative-free products, have also led to innovations and developments in new packaging technologies, especially active packaging (Llewellyn, 2003).…”