Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Preparation, characterization, and antimicrobial activity of chitosan/gum arabic/polyethylene glycol composite films incorporated with black pepper essential oil and ginger essential oil as potential packaging and wound dressing materials

  • Original Research
  • Published:
Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Essential oils (EOs), black pepper essential oil (BPEO), and ginger essential oil (GEO) exhibit excellent antimicrobial, antioxidant, nutritional, and biomedical properties; however, poor aqueous solubility and instability of their constituents reduced the retention of these properties for the longer time. In this study, biocomposite films based on the chitosan- (CS), gum arabic– (GA), and polyethylene glycol (PEG)–incorporated BPEO and GEO were fabricated by solvent casting method to overcome the limitations and the sensitivity of the EOs. The interaction of the EOs with composite matrix was evaluated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were performed with the determination of swelling degree, water solubility, volatile mass fraction, and mechanical properties. The BPEO-CS/GA/PEG film showed rough surface with coarseness nature due to the migration of BPEO towards CS/GA/PEG surface; likewise, GEO-CS/GA/PEG appeared rough surface whereas showed more cavities with entrapment of GEO droplets. The BPEO- and GEO-incorporated CS/GA/PEG films showed great mechanical strength and flexibility with high thermal stability. The BPEO- and GEO-incorporated CS/GA/PEG films showed high antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhimurium. The obtained results have demonstrated that both BPEO- and GEO-incorporated CS/GA/PEG films are promising alternatives to food packaging and wound dressing materials.

Graphical abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Silva FT, Cunha KF, Fonseca LM, Antunes MD, Halal SLME, Fiorentini ÂM, Zavareze ER, Dias ARG (2018) Action of ginger essential oil (Zingiber officinale) encapsulated in proteins ultrafine fibers on the antimicrobial control in situ. Int J Biol Macromol 118:107–115

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Hu J, Zhang Y, Xiao Z, Wang X (2018) Preparation and properties of cinnamon-thyme-ginger composite essential oil nanocapsules. Ind Crop Prod 122:85–92

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Dima C, Pătraşcu L, Cantaragiu A, Alexe P, Dima Ş (2016) The kinetics of the swelling process and the release mechanisms of Coriandrum sativum L. essential oil from chitosan/alginate/inulin microcapsules. Food Chem 195:39–48

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Chen S, Liu B, Carlson MA, Gombart A, Reilly D, Xie J (2017) Recent advances in electrospun nanofibers for wound healing. Nanomedicine 12:1335–1352

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ardekani NT, Khorram M, Zomorodian K, Yazdanpanah S, Veisi H, Veisi H (2019) Evaluation of electrospun poly (vinyl alcohol)-based nanofiber mats incorporated with Zataria multiflora essential oil as potential wound dressing. Int J Biol Macromol 125:743–750

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Chen C, Xu Z, Ma Y, Liu J, Zhang Q, Tang Z, Fu K, Yang F, Xie J (2018) Properties, vapour-phase antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of active poly(vinyl alcohol) packaging films incorporated with clove oil. Food Control 88:105–112

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Tang Y, Zhou Y, Lan X, Huang D, Luo T, Ji J, Mafang Z, Miao X, Wang H, Wang W (2019) Electrospun gelatin nanofibers encapsulated with peppermint and chamomile essential oils as potential edible packaging. J Agric Food Chem 67:2227–2234

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Froiio F, Mosaddik A, Morshed MT, Paolino D, Fessi H, Elaissari A (2019) Edible polymers for essential oils encapsulation: application in food preservation. Ind Eng Chem Res 58:20932–20945

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Xu L, Chu Z, Wang H, Cai L, Tu Z, Liu H, Zhu C, Shi H, Pan D-H, Pan J, Fei X (2019) Electrostatically assembled multilayered films of biopolymer enhanced nanocapsules for on-demand drug release. ACS Appl Bio Mater 2:3429–3438

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Simon-Brown K, Solval KM, Chotiko A, Alfaro L, Reyes V, Liu C, Dzandu B, Kyereh E, Barnaby AG, Thompson I, Xu Z, Sathivel S (2016) Microencapsulation of ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract by spray drying technology. LWT - Food Sci Technol 70:119–125

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Noori S, Zeynali F, Almasi H (2018) Antimicrobial and antioxidant efficiency of nanoemulsion-based edible coating containing ginger (Zingiber officinale) essential oil and its effect on safety and quality attributes of chicken breast fillets. Food Control 84:312–320

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Matshetshe KI, Parani S, Manki SM, Oluwafemi OS (2018) Preparation, characterization and in vitro release study of β-cyclodextrin/chitosan nanoparticles loaded Cinnamomum zeylanicum essential oil. Int J Biol Macromol 118:676–682

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Xu T, Gao CC, Yang Y, Shen X, Huang M, Liu S, Tang X (2018) Retention and release properties of cinnamon essential oil in antimicrobial films based on chitosan and gum arabic. Food Hydrocoll 84:84–92

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Li Z, Lin S, An S, Liu L, Hu Y, Wan L (2019) Preparation, characterization and anti-aflatoxigenic activity of chitosan packaging films incorporated with turmeric essential oil. Int J Biol Macromol 131:420–434

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Bonilla J, Vargas M, Atarés L, Chiralt A (2014) Effect of chitosan essential oil films on the storage-keeping quality of pork meat products. Food Bioprocess Technol 7:2443–2450

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Shojaee-Aliabadi S, Hosseini H, Mohammadifar MA, Mohammadi A, Ghasemlou M, Hosseini SM, Khaksar R (2014) Characterization of kappa-carrageenan films incorporated plant essential oils with improved antimicrobial activity. Carbohydr Polym 101:582–591

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Mayachiew P, Devahastin S, Mackey BM, Niranjan K (2010) Effects of drying methods and conditions on antimicrobial activity of edible chitosan films enriched with galangal extract. Food Res Int 43:125–132

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Chen H, Hu X, Chen E, Wu S, McClements DJ, Liu S, Li B, Li Y (2016) Preparation, characterization, and properties of chitosan films with cinnamaldehyde nanoemulsions. Food Hydrocoll 61:662–671

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Peng H, Xiong H, Li J, Chen L, Zhao Q (2010) Methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-grafted-chitosan based microcapsules: synthesis, characterization and properties as a potential hydrophilic wall material for stabilization and controlled release of algal oil. J Food Eng 101:113–119

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Sánchez-González L, Cháfer M, Hernández M, Chiralt A, González-Martínez C (2011) Antimicrobial activity of polysaccharide films containing essential oils. Food Control 22:1302–1310

    Google Scholar 

  21. Hromiš NM, Lazić VL, Markov SL, Vaštag ŽG, Popović SZ, Šuput DZ, Džinić NR, Velićanski AS, Popović LM (2015) Optimization of chitosan biofilm properties by addition of caraway essential oil and beeswax. J Food Eng 158:86–93

    Google Scholar 

  22. Perdones Á, Chiralt A, Vargas M (2016) Properties of film-forming dispersions and films based on chitosan containing basil or thyme essential oil. Food Hydrocoll 57:271–279

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Campelo PH, Junqueira LA, Resende JVD, Zacarias RD, Fernandes RVDB, Botrel DA, Borges SV (2017) Stability of lime essential oil emulsion prepared using biopolymers and ultrasound treatment. Int J Food Prop 20:S564–S579

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Ozturk B, Argin S, Ozilgen M, McClements DJ (2015) Formation and stabilization of nanoemulsion-based vitamin E delivery systems using natural biopolymers: whey protein isolate and gum arabic. Food Chem 188:256–263

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Krishnadev P, Gunasekaran K (2017) Development of gum arabic edible coating formulation through nanotechnological approaches and their effect on physicochemical change in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L) fruit during storage. Int J Agric Sci 9:3866–3870

    Google Scholar 

  26. Mousa RMA (2018) Simultaneous inhibition of acrylamide and oil uptake in deep fat fried potato strips using gum arabic-based coating incorporated with antioxidants extracted from spices. Food Hydrocoll 83:265–274

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Masood N, Ahmed R, Tariq M, Ahmed Z, Masoud MS, Ali I, Asghar R, Andleeb A, Hasan A (2019) Silver nanoparticle impregnated chitosan-PEG hydrogel enhances wound healing in diabetes induced rabbits. Int J Pharm 559:23–36

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Mishra D, Khare P, Singh DK, Luqman S, Kumar PVA, Yadav A, Das T, Saikia BK (2018) Retention of antibacterial and antioxidant properties of lemongrass oil loaded on cellulose nanofibre-poly ethylene glycol composite. Ind Crop Prod 114:68–80

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Rakmai J, Cheirsilp B, Mejuto JC, Torrado-Agrasar A, Simal-Gandara J (2017) Physico-chemical characterization and evaluation of bio-efficacies of black pepper essential oil encapsulated in hydroxypropyl-betacyclodextrin. Food Hydrocoll 65:157–164

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Singh G, Maurya S, Catalan C, de Lampasona MP (2005) Studies on essential oils, part 42: chemical, antifungal, antioxidant and sprout suppressant studies on ginger essential oil and its oleoresin. Flavour Fragr J 20:1–6

    Google Scholar 

  31. Menon AN, Padmakumari KP, Jayalekshmy A (2003) Essential oil composition of four major cultivars of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) III. J Essent Oil Res 15:155–157

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Akyuz L, Kaya M, Ilk S, Cakmak YS, Salaberria AM, Labidi J, Yılmaz BA, Sargin I (2018) Effect of different animal fat and plant oil additives on physicochemical, mechanical, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of chitosan films. Int J Biol Macromol 111:475–484

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) (1995) Standard test methods of water vapor trans-mission of materials. Annual book of ASTM standards. American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, pp 96–95

  34. Gopi S, Amalraj A, Kalarikkal N, Zhang J, Thomas S, Guo Q (2019) Preparation and characterization of nanocomposite films based on gum arabic, maltodextrin and polyethylene glycol reinforced with turmeric nanofiber isolated from turmeric spent. Mater Sci Eng C 97:723–729

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Rouatbi M, Duquenoy A, Giampaoli P (2007) Extraction of the essential oil of thyme and black pepper by superheated steam. J Food Eng 78:708–714

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Myszka K, Schmidt MT, Majcher M, Juzwa W, Czaczyk K (2017) β-Caryophyllene-rich pepper essential oils suppress spoilage activity of Pseudomonas fluorescens KM06 in fresh-cut lettuce. LWT - Food Sci Technol 83:118–126

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Wang Y, Li R, Jiang Z-T, Tan J, Tang S-H, Li T-T, Liang L-L, He H-J, Liu Y-M, Li J-T, Zhang X-C (2018) Green and solvent-free simultaneous ultrasonic-microwave assisted extraction of essential oil from white and black peppers. Ind Crop Prod 114:164–172

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Lia Y-X, Zhang C, Pan S, Chen L, Liu M, Yang K, Zeng X, Tian J (2020) Analysis of chemical components and biological activities of essential oils from black and white pepper (Piper nigrum L.) in five provinces of southern China. LWT - Food Sci Technol 117:108644

    Google Scholar 

  39. Hopkins EJ, Chang C, Lam RSH, Nickerson MT (2015) Effects of flaxseed oil concentration on the performance of a soy protein isolate-based emulsion-type film. Food Res Int 67:418–425

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. dos Santos Caetano K, Hessel CT, Tondo EC, Flôres SH, Cladera-Olivera F (2017) Application of active cassava starch films incorporated with oregano essential oil and pumpkin residue extract on ground beef. J Food Saf 37:e12355

    Google Scholar 

  41. Evangelho JA, Dannenberg GS, Biduski B, Halal SLM, Kringel DH, Gularte MA, Fiorentini AM, Zavareze ER (2019) Antibacterial activity, optical, mechanical, and barrier properties of corn starch films containing orange essential oil. Carbohydr Polym 222:114981

    Google Scholar 

  42. Sahraee S, Milani JM, Ghanbarzadeh B, Hamishehkar H (2017) Effect of corn oil on physical, thermal, and antifungal properties of gelatin-based nanocomposite films containing nano chitin. LWT-Food Sci Technol 76:33–39

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Luís Â, Pereira L, Domingues F, Ramos A (2019) Development of a carboxymethyl xylan film containing licorice essential oil with antioxidant properties to inhibit the growth of foodborne pathogens. LWT - Food Sci Technol 111:218–225

    Google Scholar 

  44. Fabra MJ, Talens P, Chiralt A (2008) Tensile properties and water vapor permeability of sodium caseinate films containing oleic acid-beeswax mixtures. J Food Eng 85:393–400

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Xue F, Gu Y, Wang Y, Li C, Adhikari B (2019) Encapsulation of essential oil in emulsion based edible films prepared by soy protein isolate-gum acacia conjugates. Food Hydrocoll 96:178–189

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Fernandes RVB, Botrel DA, Silva EK, Borges SV, Oliveira CR, Yoshida MI, Feitosa JPA, de Paula RCM (2016) Cashew gum and inulin: new alternative for ginger essential oil microencapsulation. Carbohydr Polym 153:133–142

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Rajeswari A, Amalraj A, Pius A (2015) Removal of phosphate using chitosan-polymer composites. J Environ Chem Eng 3:2331–2341

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Gopi S, Amalraj A, Jude S, Thomas S, Guo Q (2019) Bionanocomposite films based on potato, tapioca starch and chitosan reinforced with cellulose nanofiber isolated from turmeric spent. J Taiwan Inst Chem Eng 96:664–671

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Rajeswari A, Amalraj A, Pius A (2016) Adsorption studies for the removal of nitrate using chitosan/PEG and chitosan/PVA polymer composites. J Water Process Eng 9:123–134

    Google Scholar 

  50. Woranuch S, Yoksan R (2013) Eugenol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles: I. Thermal stability improvement of eugenol through encapsulation. Carbohydr Polym 96:578–585

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Acevedo-Fani A, Salvia-Trujillo L, Martín-Belloso O (2015) Edible films from essential- oil-loaded nanoemulsions: physicochemical characterization and antimicrobial properties. Food Hydrocoll 47:168–177

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Abdollahi M, Damirchi S, Shafafi M, Rezaei M, Ariaii P (2019) Carboxymethyl cellulose-agar biocomposite film activated with summer savory essential oil as an antimicrobial agent. Int J Biol Macromol 126:561–568

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Gheribi R, Puchot L, Verge P, Jaoued-Grayaa N, Mezni M, Habibi Y, Khwaldia K (2018) Development of plasticized edible films from opuntia ficus-indica mucilage: a comparative study of various polyol plasticizers. Carbohydr Polym 190:204–211

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Şentürk SB, Kahraman D, Alkan C, Gökçe İ (2011) Biodegradable PEG/cellulose, PEG/agarose and PEG/chitosan blends as shape stabilized phase change materials for latent heat energy storage. Carbohydr Polym 84:141–144

    Google Scholar 

  55. Ma Q, Zhang Y, Critzer F, Davidson PM, Zivanovic S, Zhong Q (2016) Physical, mechanical, and antimicrobial properties of chitosan films with microemulsions of cinnamon bark oil and soybean oil. Food Hydrocoll 52:533–542

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Fernandez-Pan I, Mate JI, Gardrat C, Coma V (2015) Effect of chitosan molecular weight on the antimicrobial activity and release rate of carvacrol-enriched films. Food Hydrocoll 51:60–68

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Nostro A, Scaffaro R, D'Arrigo M, Botta L, Filocamo A, Marino A, Bisignano G (2012) Study on carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde polymeric films: mechanical properties, release kinetics and antibacterial and antibiofilm activities. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 96:1029–1038

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Zhang Y, Liu X, Wang Y, Jiang P, Quek S (2016) Antibacterial activity and mechanism of cinnamon essential oil against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Food Control 59:282–289

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Zengin H, Baysal AH (2014) Antibacterial and antioxidant activity of essential oil terpenes against pathogenic and spoilage-forming bacteria and cell structure-activity relationships evaluated by SEM microscopy. Molecules 19:17773–17798

    Google Scholar 

  60. Sayyad SF, Chaudhari SR (2010) Isolation of volatile oil from some plants of Zingiberaceae family and estimation of their antibacterial potential. J Curr Pharm Res 4:1–3

    Google Scholar 

  61. Amalraj A, Haponiuk JT, Thomas S, Gopi S (2020) Preparation, characterization and antimicrobial activity of polyvinyl alcohol/gum arabic/chitosan composite films incorporated with black pepper essential oil and ginger essential oil. Int J Biol Macromol 151:366–375

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the management of Plant Lipids Private Ltd., Cochin, India, for their support and encouragement. We also wish to express our gratitude to our laboratory members for their active help and cooperation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. R&D Centre, Aurea Biolabs (P) Ltd, Kolenchery, Cochin, Kerala, 682 311, India

    Augustine Amalraj, K. K. Jithin Raj & Sreeraj Gopi

  2. Chemical Faculty, Gdansk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland

    Augustine Amalraj, Józef T. Haponiuk & Sreeraj Gopi

  3. International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarshini Hills P. O., Kottayam, Kerala, 686 560, India

    Sabu Thomas

Authors
  1. Augustine Amalraj
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. K. Jithin Raj
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Józef T. Haponiuk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sabu Thomas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sreeraj Gopi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sreeraj Gopi.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Three of the authors (A.A., K.K.J.R., and S.G.) are employees of Aurea Biolabs (P) Ltd., a research subsidiary of Plant Lipids Ltd. All other authors have no conflicts to report.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Amalraj, A., Raj, K.K.J., Haponiuk, J.T. et al. Preparation, characterization, and antimicrobial activity of chitosan/gum arabic/polyethylene glycol composite films incorporated with black pepper essential oil and ginger essential oil as potential packaging and wound dressing materials. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater 3, 485–497 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-020-00178-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-020-00178-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation