Chemical Biology Lab (ASK-II), School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, 613401, Tamilnadu, India.
Department of Fruit and Vegetable Technology, Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore 570020, India.
Food Res Int. 2018 Sep;111:509-523. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2018.05.066. Epub 2018 May 29.
Due to the convenience and nutritional value, minimally processed fruits and vegetables (MPFV) are one of the rapid growing sectors in the food industry. However, their microbiological safety is a cause of great concern. Essential oils (EOs), known for potent antimicrobial efficacy have been shown to reduce microbial load in MPFV, but their low water solubility, high volatility and strong organoleptic properties limit their wide use. Encapsulating EOs to nanoemulsion offers a viable remedy for such limitations. Due to the unique properties of the EOs nanoemulsion, there has been an increasing interest in their fabrication and use in food system. The present review article encompasses the overview of the prominent microflora present in MPFV, the recent developments on the fabrication and stability of EOs based nanoemulsion, their in vitro antimicrobial activity and their application in MPFV. This review also discusses the EOs based nanoemulsions antimicrobial mechanism of action and their regulatory issues related to their use. Application of EOs based nanoemulsion either as washing disinfectant or with incorporation into edible coatings have been shown to considerably improve the microbial quality and safety of MPFV. This efficacy has been further shown to increase when combined with other hurdles. However, further studies are required on the toxicity of EOs based nanoemulsion to assure its commercial exploitation.
由于方便性和营养价值，轻度加工的水果和蔬菜（MPFV）是食品工业中快速发展的领域之一。然而，它们的微生物安全性是一个令人非常关注的问题。精油（EOs）具有很强的抗菌功效，已被证明可以减少 MPFV 中的微生物负荷，但它们的低水溶性、高挥发性和强烈的感官特性限制了它们的广泛应用。将 EOs 包封到纳米乳液中为解决这些限制提供了一种可行的方法。由于 EOs 纳米乳液的独特性质，人们对其制备和在食品系统中的应用越来越感兴趣。本文综述了 MPFV 中存在的主要微生物菌群，以及基于 EOs 的纳米乳液的制备和稳定性、体外抗菌活性及其在 MPFV 中的应用的最新进展。本文还讨论了基于 EOs 的纳米乳液的抗菌作用机制及其与使用相关的监管问题。应用基于 EOs 的纳米乳液作为洗涤消毒剂或与可食用涂层结合使用，已被证明可以显著提高 MPFV 的微生物质量和安全性。当与其他障碍因素结合使用时，这种效果会进一步增强。然而，需要进一步研究基于 EOs 的纳米乳液的毒性，以确保其商业开发。
