Cinnamon essential oil/inulin inclusion complexes: Physicochemical, rheological, thermal, morphological, and antimicrobial properties

Abstract

Cinnamon essential oil (CEO), an excellent source of active antimicrobial compounds, has a strong flavor and extreme volatility, which limits its application in the food industry. The objective of this study was to encapsulate CEO into inulin (INL) by freeze‐drying at selected concentrations (10%–20% w/w). Encapsulates containing 15% CEO exhibited the maximum encapsulation efficiency (63.30%). The concentrations of CEO significantly influenced the melting of encapsulates and their melt rheology. Oscillatory rheology data displayed abnormalities in the rheograms with increasing CEO concentrations in encapsulates. X‐ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy peaks demonstrated the formation of successful encapsulations. The cracks on the encapsulated surface were visualized through SEM, and a variation in topography was quantified by atomic force microscopy measurements. The INL/CEO encapsulates demonstrated antimicrobial activity against selected pathogens, namely Salmonella Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes. The produced encapsulates have the potential to be used as intermediary products for food, pharmaceuticals, and packaging.Practical applicationsEncapsulates effectively retain the bioactive compounds of essential oils in a complex and release them through controlled mechanisms. These encapsulates have significant industrial applications in active packaging, flavor retention, and pharmaceutics.