Abstract:
Plant essential oils are widely present in various plants, which are non-toxic, harmless, easy to degrade, and friendly to the human body and environment. Moreover, various plant essential oils exert significant antimicrobial effects by disrupting the integrity of cell membranes and walls, as well as mitochondrial structure and function. However, the strong volatility of plant essential oils leads to unsatisfactory antimicrobial efficacy. Natural high molecular polymers such as chitosan, starch, gelatin, pectin, and soy protein isolate, which are non-toxic and harmless, can wrap essential oils into different formulations. This not only prolongs the antimicrobial efficacy of plant essential oils, but also improves food quality. On the basis of the antimicrobial mechanism of plant essential oils, this review lists the antimicrobial effects of different plant essential oil formulations, and finally discusses their application in the preservation of solid and liquid food, which will provide a theoretical basis for the in-depth development and utilization of plant essential oils.
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