Research on Antimicrobial Activity of Functional Protein Films

Abstract

Antimicrobial effect of functional protein films incorporating garlic oil (GO), potassium sorbate (PS) and nisin (N) at various concentrations were discussed. This activity was tested against food pathogenic bacteria namely Escherichia coli (E.coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus).Mechanical and physical properties were characterized. In the range of antimicrobial agents concentration studied, tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (E) of functional protein films were changed by incorporating GO,PS and N. And the WVP value of functional protein films decreased as antimicrobial agents added. GO incorporated into protein films had no effect on E.coli, but incorporation of GO at 300μl had antimicrobial activity against S.aureus. Protein films incorporated with PS showed antimicrobial activity against S.aureus, but there was no effect on E.coli. Incorporation of N at the lowest level of 25,000 IU had antimicrobial activity against both E.coli and S.aureus.