Abstract:
The present study aimed to develop and evaluate a biodegradable active packaging film by
incorporating turmeric leaf essential oil (TLEO) into a starch-chitosan matrix for food
packaging applications. Turmeric leaves, an underutilized agricultural by-product, were
utilized as a sustainable source of bioactive essential oil. TLEO was extracted by
hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus and incorporated into starch-chitosan films at
concentrations of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4% (v/v) using the solvent-casting method. The developed
films were characterized for mechanical and physical properties, including thickness, force at
break, elongation at break, bursting strength, and colour. Their preservation efficacy was
evaluated by determining the total plate count (TPC) of refrigerated sardine samples wrapped
with the films, while insect-repellent activity against Sitophilus oryzae was also assessed.
The incorporation of TLEO significantly improved the mechanical performance of the films.
Film thickness increased from 0.084 to 0.208 mm, bursting strength from 23.67 to 30.33 psi,
force at break from 1.37 to 5.83 N, and elongation at break from 0.90 to 9.00 mm as TLEO
concentration increased to 4%. Colour analysis showed a gradual decrease in lightness and an
increase in yellowness with increasing essential oil concentration, confirming the successful
incorporation of TLEO into the polymer matrix. Antimicrobial evaluation revealed a
concentration-dependent reduction in microbial growth during refrigerated storage of sardine.
The film containing 4% TLEO exhibited the best preservation performance, maintaining the
total plate count at 6.73 log CFU g⁻¹ after seven days of storage compared with 7.51 log CFU
g⁻¹ for the control film. Repellency studies also demonstrated enhanced insect-repellent activity
with increasing TLEO concentration.
Based on the combined evaluation of mechanical properties, antimicrobial efficacy, and insectrepellent activity, the starch-chitosan film containing 4% TLEO was identified as the optimum
formulation. The study demonstrates that turmeric leaf essential oil, obtained from agricultural
waste, can be effectively utilized to produce environmentally friendly active packaging films
with improved mechanical strength, antimicrobial activity, and insect-repellent properties,
highlighting their potential as sustainable alternatives to conventional petroleum-based food
packaging materials.
