Eugenol as an Active Component in Food Packaging Materials

MURATORE, FLORENCIA; GOÑI, MARÍA L.; STRUMIA, MIRIAM C.; BARBOSA, SILVIA E.; GAÑÁN, NICOLÁS A.; MARTINI, RAQUEL E.

Eugenol: Biosynthesis, Toxicity and Uses

Nova Science Publishers

Lugar: New York; Año: 2019; p. 1 - 48

Eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol) is a naturally occurring phenolpresent in many botanical extracts, such as clove, cinnamon, and nutmegessential oils. The beneficial properties of this compound have beenextensively investigated and reported by several authors, opening a widerange of applications in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and dentalcare industry. Among others, antimicrobial, antioxidant, analgesic, repellent and insecticidal activities can be mentioned. In the lastyears, the food industry has generated new demands on packagingtechnology, due to the growing consumer interest on fresh or minimallyprocessed products with extended shelf-life and controlled quality. In thissense, active packaging technology appears in the market aiming toimprove food preservation, by interacting with the food product and/orthe surrounding environment and making use of additives included intothe packaging systems. In this context, the incorporation of naturalextracts obtained from plants for active packaging development is aninteresting alternative to the food packaging industry. In thischapter, the use of eugenol for the development of new active packagingmaterial is presented, using two different technologies for two polymermatrices. First, linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) films wereimpregnated with eugenol using supercritical CO2 assisted impregnation. On a second approach, eugenol was grafted onto cellulose using a polycarboxylic acid as a linking agent for the preparation of a bioactive paper. In both cases, the effect of different process conditions on the final material properties was investigated. In the first case, the effect of pressure and depressurization rate on eugenol incorporation into LLDPE was investigated, while on the second approach, the effect of temperature, time and eugenol amount on the final properties of the bioactive paper was studied. Furthermore, the effect of the modification on the polymer mechanical properties was evaluated for both materials. Additionally, thermal properties and color were analyzed for impregnated LLDPE films and grafted paper, respectively. Finally, the antioxidant and insectifuge/insecticidal activities of the modified polymers were assessed and confirmed, showing that the modified polymers could be interesting materials for active food packaging applications.