Application des huiles essentielles dans le domaine des embalages alimentaires.

Abstract

The overall objective of this work was to study the suitability of Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) and starch containing natural agents, as active packaging. For this, we chose several natural actives substances such as essential oils and plant extracts of rosemary, myrtle, thyme and pistachio tree to produce an active food packaging. Firstly, composition analyses, as well as a phytochemical and biological characterization of these actives substances were elaborated. Secondly, the mode of inclusion of these active agents in PLA and starch matrices and also their potential effects on diverse optical, thermal, mechanical and barrier properties of PLA and starch were investigated. An evaluation of the antifungal and antioxidant activities of these films was studied. Then, a study of the release of the active agents was accomplished from PLA and starch films in contact with a food simulant. The results showed that PLA has the capacity to contain natural active substances and protect food from microbial spoilage. Also, the thermal, the mechanical, and the water vapor barrier properties of PLA were enhanced by the incorporation of commercials essential oils of rosemary (0.5%) and thyme (0.5% and 5%) and the ethyl acetate extracts of thyme (0.5%) and myrtle (0.5% and 1.5%). The incorporation of thyme commercial essential oil into starch film-forming solution, has improved the mechanical and the barriers properties. PLA films containing essential oils and plant extracts have shown promising results to be applied as active food packaging, since they have enhanced the antifungal and antioxidant properties of PLA.