Antifungal activity of biopolymers containing natamycin and rosemary extract against Aspergillus niger and Penicillium roquefortii

Antimicrobial agent-releasing films have been proposed as an effective way of inhibiting chiefly surface spoilage of food products. Antifungal activities of natamycin (NA), rosemary extract (RE) and NA + RE were tested against Aspergillus niger and Penicillium roquefortii with agar disc diffusion assay. NA, RE and NA + RE were also included into biopolymers made from gluten and methyl cellulose. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of NA in both films were 2 and 1 mg NA per 10 g film solution against A. niger and P. roquefortii, respectively. RE did not show any inhibitory antifungal activity alone. Although NA incorporated into both films at a concentration of 1.5 mg NA per 10 g film solution was not effective against A. niger, combination of NA at the same concentration with RE in the films inhibited the growth of this mould. NA in solution or in biopolymers is very effective in inhibiting the growth of selected organisms, and RE acted synergistically with NA to prevent the growth of A. niger when incorporated into both films. © 2008 Institute of Food Science and Technolog