**14. Future potential**

The identification and evaluation of natural products for the control of pathogens and to assure consumers a safe, wholesome and nutritious food supply is a challenge. The problem of microbial resistance is growing and the outlook for the use of antimicrobial drugs in the future is still uncertain. Even though pharmacological industries have produced a number of new antibiotics in the last few decades, resistance to these drugs by microorganisms has increased. Plants contain thousands of constituents and are valuable sources of new and biologically active molecules possessing antimicrobial properties. The current focus in natural preservatives is on a small number of antimicrobial agents, which have been used for many years, and there is a need to expand this list for their food application to ensure safety and quality of the food products. There is no shortage of candidates to become the food preservatives of the future, but still many obstacles exist on the road to all-natural preservation. There are very few natural antimicrobials that can be used as direct replacements for existing preservatives owing to their lower effectiveness, higher cost and product organoleptic quality deterioration. Further, if a natural antimicrobial with potential as a food preservative can be shown to be sufficiently effective in foods, it will need regulatory approval before it can be used as a food additive. Once declared additive on the label, consumers will have different perspectives about these antimicrobials, but it is possible to classify them as processing aids, thus consumer perception of them being an additive can be avoided. Therefore, for the successful exploitation of the natural antimicrobials as food preservatives, probably it will not only require changes in legislation but also require better consumer education.

The information available to date demonstrates that different antimicrobials of plant origin can effectively reduce or inhibit pathogenic and spoilage microorganism, and thus have a potential to become a good alternative to synthetic antimicrobials. The development of cost effective isolation and purification procedures that avoid loss of functional properties of active compounds will aid in wider use and acceptance of plant extracts as natural preservatives. However, too much focus on the use of single compounds over mixtures may not be compatible with complex plant extracts in which valuable bioactive molecules are often present in mixed form and the biological activity of plant extracts mostly results from additive or synergistic effects of these components. Further, the use of natural antimicrobials in combination with another or with other technologies in a multi-hurdle preservation system can enhance the performance of natural antimicrobials. Studies have demonstrated that natural antimicrobial agents may offer unique advantages for food processing, and in addition to improving the shelf life and safety of foods; they may allow novel food products with enhanced quality and nutritional properties. The applications of natural antimicrobial agents are likely to grow steadily in the future

**171**

**15. Conclusion**

*Essential Oil as Antimicrobial Agents: Efficacy, Stability, and Safety Issues for Food Application*

because of consumer demand for minimal processing and food containing naturally derived preservatives is on rise. Further, it is expected that plant extracts showing target sites other than those used by antibiotics will be active against drug-resistant microbial pathogens. The impact of product formulation and storage parameters on the efficacy of natural antimicrobials as well as safety and toxicology evaluation of

Antimicrobial and antioxidative packaging systems containing natural biologi-

Also, the products which produced by nanotechnology as (Aquanova product) the product description include "Aquanova's recent nanotech antioxidant system for essential oils and flavours is a clear signpost of where food ingredient technology in the twenty-first century is headed." It is designed to help manufacturers introduce antioxidants into food and beverage products easily and effectively. The product micelle allows to create crystal clear solutions ("solubilisates") of lipophilic or waterinsoluble substances not just from a visual standpoint. The product micelle is stable with respect to pH and temperature and has a diameter of approximately 30 nm. Here, where microemulsions and liposomes prove to be problematical and unsuitable, the product micelle represents the optimum solution in the fields of foodstuffs (functional food), cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology (nutritional solutions for cell and bacterial cultures). The 100% water-soluble micelle can be integrated directly and independently of recipe characteristics into final products in the quoted fields. The product micelle is proving to be an optimum carrier system of hydrophobic substances for a higher and faster intestinal and dermal

On the other hand, it is important we must be realize that further investigations into the deleterious or adverse biological effects of essential oils in *in vivo* models need to be performed. By doing so, we can better understand their mechanisms of action in combating disease, and better evaluate the quantities at which they best

Natural materials should be considered as potential alternative. Owing to the new attraction for natural products like essential oils and plant extracts, despite their wide use, it is important to develop a better understanding of their mode of biological action for new applications in human health, agriculture and the

cal active substances may have high potential for commercial food packaging applications. Consumers would prefer to obtain better food safety of fresh produce and minimally processed foods using this type of packaging system. However, it is necessary that new active packaging systems must satisfy food safety regulations, which are different in each country. Greater food safety and quality assurance may be improved by the use of both antimicrobial and antioxidative packaging systems incorporating natural active agents. Some commercial products, such as films coated with wasabi extract, are already on the market and satisfy the regulations and consumer needs of particular countries. Most materials containing natural active agents are more effective when there is direct contact of the packaging materials with the food product. For new packaging systems to be introduced into the market effectively, careful design is required. Food contact layers with the appropriate concentrations of the active agents may be laminated or coated onto the barrier layer of the package structure. There are some suggestions that before long many countries would adopt the new active packaging concepts into their packaging regulations. Therefore, new applications of antimicrobial and antioxidative

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92305*

these natural antimicrobials require an in-depth study.

packaging are likely to be available in the market sooner or later.

resorption and penetration of active ingredients.

exert their beneficial actions to improving human health.

#### *Essential Oil as Antimicrobial Agents: Efficacy, Stability, and Safety Issues for Food Application DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92305*

because of consumer demand for minimal processing and food containing naturally derived preservatives is on rise. Further, it is expected that plant extracts showing target sites other than those used by antibiotics will be active against drug-resistant microbial pathogens. The impact of product formulation and storage parameters on the efficacy of natural antimicrobials as well as safety and toxicology evaluation of these natural antimicrobials require an in-depth study.

Antimicrobial and antioxidative packaging systems containing natural biological active substances may have high potential for commercial food packaging applications. Consumers would prefer to obtain better food safety of fresh produce and minimally processed foods using this type of packaging system. However, it is necessary that new active packaging systems must satisfy food safety regulations, which are different in each country. Greater food safety and quality assurance may be improved by the use of both antimicrobial and antioxidative packaging systems incorporating natural active agents. Some commercial products, such as films coated with wasabi extract, are already on the market and satisfy the regulations and consumer needs of particular countries. Most materials containing natural active agents are more effective when there is direct contact of the packaging materials with the food product. For new packaging systems to be introduced into the market effectively, careful design is required. Food contact layers with the appropriate concentrations of the active agents may be laminated or coated onto the barrier layer of the package structure. There are some suggestions that before long many countries would adopt the new active packaging concepts into their packaging regulations. Therefore, new applications of antimicrobial and antioxidative packaging are likely to be available in the market sooner or later.

Also, the products which produced by nanotechnology as (Aquanova product) the product description include "Aquanova's recent nanotech antioxidant system for essential oils and flavours is a clear signpost of where food ingredient technology in the twenty-first century is headed." It is designed to help manufacturers introduce antioxidants into food and beverage products easily and effectively. The product micelle allows to create crystal clear solutions ("solubilisates") of lipophilic or waterinsoluble substances not just from a visual standpoint. The product micelle is stable with respect to pH and temperature and has a diameter of approximately 30 nm. Here, where microemulsions and liposomes prove to be problematical and unsuitable, the product micelle represents the optimum solution in the fields of foodstuffs (functional food), cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology (nutritional solutions for cell and bacterial cultures). The 100% water-soluble micelle can be integrated directly and independently of recipe characteristics into final products in the quoted fields. The product micelle is proving to be an optimum carrier system of hydrophobic substances for a higher and faster intestinal and dermal resorption and penetration of active ingredients.

On the other hand, it is important we must be realize that further investigations into the deleterious or adverse biological effects of essential oils in *in vivo* models need to be performed. By doing so, we can better understand their mechanisms of action in combating disease, and better evaluate the quantities at which they best exert their beneficial actions to improving human health.
