Abstract:

Edible antimicrobial films containing essential oils for antimicrobial purpose are an important research topic in the
field of food packaging, which have gained growing attention among food scientists. In this article, the major components
and antibacterial properties of essential oils used in edible films are introduced. Meanwhile, we summarize the commonly
used techniques for preparing such edible films and for testing their antimicrobial performance. The emphasis is put on
elucidating the effects of essential oils on antioxidant activity, mechanical properties, permeability and other physical and
chemical properties of edible films. Furthermore, possible problems with edible antimicrobial films containing essential oils
are analyzed, and future prospects are discussed.

Key words: essential oil, edible film, antibacterial activity