Physical and biological characteristics of eco-friendly films added with Cinnamomum zeylanicum extract for packaging materials

The effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum extract (CZE) at different rations (0%, 1%, 3% and 5%) on gelatin (GL)–polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blend films were evaluated in relation to the structural, tensile strength, physical, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of the films in this study. The results showed that water barriers of the film samples decreased, but the UV-blocking property increased and became opaque at the highest GLPVA5 film. The tensile strengths of GLPVA, GLPVA1, GLPVA3 and GLPVA5 films were 1.21, 1.78, 1.62 and 1.95 MPa, respectively. The antimicrobial effect of these films was determined against Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Salmonella typhimurium and Bacillus cereus according to the parallel stick method. Antioxidant properties of cinnamon extract were investigated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH) methods. The % inhibition of DPPH was found to be 82.00. No antibacterial effect was detected for B.cereus and E. faecalis at 0%, 1%, 3% and 5%. While no activity was observed in 0%, 1% and 3% cinnamon, 7.5 and 3.0 mm zones were detected in S. typhimirium and E. coli, respectively, in 5% cinnamon. The results suggest that the film samples could be used in a potential packaging with antioxidant and antibacterial properties.