Preparation of Eugenol–Thymol–Cuminal Composite Essential Oil Microcapsules with AITC & β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex and Its Effect on Quality of Chilled Pork

The preservation of chilled fresh pork is an issue that has widely drawn significant attention. A novel microcapsule was developed in this study, specifically a composite plant essential oil microcapsule (CEO mps) prepared using gum arabic (GA) and an inclusion compound of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), in which AITC is encapsulated within the cavity of β-CD molecules. In this formulation, AITC functions as an antibacterial agent, while the essential oils provide antioxidant properties that further enhance bacterial inhibition. The encapsulation ratio of AITC to β-CD was optimized at 1:1, with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) hydrogen spectroscopy confirming that AITC was incorporated into β-CD through its wider cavity. The morphology and structure of CEO mps were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and laser particle size analysis, and these were compared to those of AITC mps-microcapsules prepared with GA and β-CD as wall materials and AITC as the core material. The results indicated that CEO mps exhibited superior appearance and physical stability in comparison to AITC mps. The release rate of CEO mps was evaluated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), revealing sustained release characteristics. On day 12, cumulative releases for AITC, eugenol, cuminal, and thymol were 61.82%, 57.96%, 44.34%, and 38.65%. Finally, the efficacy of CEO mps in preserving chilled pork was assessed by measuring pH levels, total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), color parameters (L*, a*, b*), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARSs), water loss, and total microbial counts. The results demonstrated that CEO mps significantly inhibited microbial growth in chilled pork, reduced TBARS and TVB-N values, and helped preserve meat color integrity, thereby effectively extending shelf life by approximately six days. Overall, the experimental findings confirmed that the developed CEO mps possess both antibacterial and antioxidant properties, thereby improving both the shelf life and organoleptic quality of chilled pork.