Antimicrobial agents from Malaysian plants and their potential use in food packaging material: Review

Abstract

Malaysia is among 12 countries in the world that rich in biodiversity including an assortment of plants with potential sources for new antimicrobial agents. Despite the fact that various plants have been screened, the requirement for detail study on antimicrobial compounds from plants is preceded as safer and better agent to inhibit growth of microbes. Therefore, selected Malaysia plants with medicinal properties are listed for further review in their antimicrobial activity and their major compound that act as antimicrobial agent. The major groups of the antimicrobial constituents are phenolics, phenolic acids, quinones, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, terpenoids and alkaloids. These compounds are secondary metabolites that play the main role in plant defense mechanism. They also exhibited inhibitory effect on various microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Compounds derived from Malaysian plants have the potential to be used as antimicrobial additive as most of their extracts containing active compounds such as caffeic acid, pyrogallol, catechin and curcumin. Extraction method of plants extract is done either by conventional method of maceration and extraction under reflux and steam distillation or modern method of microwave assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction and ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction. Even though plants extracts with medicinal properties are gaining fame for their antimicrobial properties, however the study on incorporation of the extracts into edible films as antimicrobial food packaging is limited. The advantages of using an edible film with antimicrobial agent plants for food products are it safe to use and it able to extend the shelf life while reducing packaging waste.

Protein-Based Films and Coatings for Food Industry Applications

“…These kinds of compounds are synthetized by the plants in order to protect them against microbial attack. Due to this fact, their action is efficient against a broad range of pathogens [ 125 , 129 ].…”

Evaluation of the antibacterial and antifungal potential of spider saxifrage plant (Saxifraga flagellaris Willd.)

“…The use of plant natural products is ever increasing by the local communities. Berberine and quinines are examples of these products [12]. Similarly liposomes can be used to detoxify the toxins produced by Streptococcus pneumonia and S. aureus.…”

Zingiberaceae Rhizome Essential Oil: A Review of Chemical Composition, Biological Activity, and Application in Food Industry

“…While they share similar physical characteristics, each member of the family has unique pharmacological and therapeutic properties. It is on this basis that in the herbal product industry, both food and pharmaceuticals, an authentication system is needed to obtain Zingiber species which have high therapeutic effects and are original phytoceuticals compared to other species (16,17).…”