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Updated: May 29, 2026

Measuring Volatile and Non-volatile Antifungal Activity of Biocontrol Products
Published on: December 5, 2020
Plant-based antifungal active packaging: A systematic review of mechanisms, materials, and food applications
Ksenya O Frolova1, Abdullah Sharabati1, Elena S Bychkova1
1Faculty of Biotechnologies (BioTech), ITMO University, Lomonosova Street 9, Saint Petersburg 191002, Russian Federation.
Abstract:
Food spoilage remains a major challenge in food production and supply chains, primarily due to microbial contamination, chemical reactions, and physical changes. Yeasts and molds are one of the key contributors to deterioration. This review summarizes recent studies on active packaging materials incorporating plant extracts to inhibit fungal growth. A systematic analysis of publications from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was performed, focusing on films and coatings with plant-derived extracts as antifungal agents for food products. Numerous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of plant-based bioactive packaging against molds and yeasts, including Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus spp., Botrytis cinerea, and Candida albicans. The inhibitory effects depended on extract origin, concentration, and packaging composition. Overall, plant-based active packaging shows strong potential as a natural, sustainable approach to extending food shelf life by preventing fungal spoilage. Continued research could advance eco-friendly preservation technologies and promote safer, longer-lasting food products.
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