Hysicochemical, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of a Type of Active Film Based on Chitosan and Barijeh (Ferula gummosa Boiss) Essential Oil

Active films and edible coatings are used to protect, improve quality and extend the shelf life of food products. The aim of this study was to produce an active film based on chitosan containing different concentrations of Barije essential oil (BEO) from 1 to 2% (w/w) and investigation its chemical composition, physicochemical properties, mechanical structure, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in the produced films. The major components of BEO were identified by using gas chromatography (GC/MS): β-Pinene (55.5%), α-pinene (12.3%), bulnesol (8.3%), guaiol (6.4%), and myrcene (2.6%), respectively. The incorporation of BEO into film increased the thickness and contact angle (CA), but reduced moisture content (MC), water solubility (WS) and water vapor permeability (WVP). Chitosan/BEO films were less resistant to breakage, more flexible and more opaque than the control film. BEO increased the absorption of color in the visible region, which in turn led to increase of the parameter b* but reduced of a* and L* parameters. In the investigation of antimicrobial activity of the films containing essential oil, Staphylococcus aureus was identified as the most sensitive bacterium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as the most resistant bacterium. The film containing essential oil showed good antioxidant properties, which by increasing the essential oil concentration by up to 2% improved total phenolic content and activity of scavenging free radicals.