Cassava bagasse starch and oregano essential oil as a potential active food packaging material: A physicochemical, thermal, mechanical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial study

This research evaluates the use of cassava bagasse starch and oregano essential oil (OEO) in an active film. For comparison, films of cassava starch (CS) and cassava bagasse starch (BS) were prepared with OEO at 1, 2, and 3 %. Physical, thermal, mechanical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties were determined. BS films presented higher thickness, WVP, ΔE, modulus of elasticity, and maximum stress, but lower strain at break compared to CS films. Adding OEO into the films increased their thickness, moisture, solubility, WVP and strain at break. However, maximum stress, modulus of elasticity, and <i>T</i> _<i>dmax</i> decreased. The CS films added with 3 % of OEO showed higher WVP (6.32 × 10^-14 kg m/m².s.Pa), intermediate solubility of 39 % and low maximum stress (0.19 MPa) while the BS film with 3 % of OEO presented 5.73 × 10^-14 kg m/m².s.Pa, 30 % and 0.39 MPa, respectively. The increase from 1 % to 3 % of OEO increased the total phenolic compound content and antioxidant activity of the films by 1.3-fold and 3.7-fold, respectively. The incorporation of 3 % OEO in the films inhibited the growth of <i>S. aureus</i> and <i>E. coli</i>. Therefore, BS and OEO films offer a promising solution as biodegradable active food packaging, providing a more sustainable alternative to traditional non-biodegradable plastic packaging.