فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

In this study, biodegradable active composite films based on whey protein and gelatin were evaluated by incorporating eucalyptus extract at different concentrations (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4%) to enhance their functional and antimicrobial properties for food packaging applications. Physicochemical properties including thickness, mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation at break, and Young’s modulus), water vapor permeability (WVP), optical properties, and solubility were measured in triplicate. The antimicrobial activity of the films was tested against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using the agar disk diffusion method. Increasing the eucalyptus extract concentration from 0 to 4% resulted in enhancing film thickness and opacity, from 1.7 to 2.26 mm and from 0.23 to 0.47% respectively. Meanwhile, the WVP increased from 0.54 to 7.5 of film significantly The highest elongation at break (17.20%) was observed in the 3% treatment, showing a significant improvement compared to the control (26.12%). The highest antimicrobial activity was recorded for active film containing 4% eucalyptus extract, where inhibition zone diameter against P. aeruginosa reached 18.6 mm, while no inhibition zone was observed for the control film. Eucalyptus extract at a 3 and 4% concentration range significantly enhanced the mechanical and antimicrobial properties of the composite films.