Effects of Mentha spicata L. extract in carboxymethyl cellulose-oleic acid composite coating on the shelf life of fish fillets during cold storage

Today, the tendency has increased to the use of bio-preservatives, including plant extracts, as an alternative to synthetic antioxidants and antimicrobials. On the other hand, the addition of lipids, such as oleic acid to biopolymers in active packaging reduces their permeability to water vapor. To investigate the antioxidant and antimicrobial effect of Mentha spicataL. extract in bio-composite carboxymethyl cellulose-based coating on the shelf life of common carp fillets in cold conditions, an experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with six treatments including carboxymethyl cellulose coating (CMS, 2.5%), CMS combined with oleic acid (OA, 1.5%), CMS combined with OA and enriched with 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% Mentha spicataextract, and three replications for 9 days. The results showed that OA improved the protective effect of CMS. The use of Mentha spicata extract in the bio-composite coating, especially at the highest concentrations, significantly (p < /em> <0.05) reduced the number of psychrotrophic bacteria, the index of thiobarbituric acid, free fatty acids, total volatile nitrogen compounds, and pH of common carp fillets during cold storage. The antioxidant and antimicrobial effect of Mentha spicataextract was dose-dependent. Therefore, Mentha spicata extract, with its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties in combination with the composite coating of CMS-OA, can be used as a bio-preservative in active packaging, to maintain quality and increase the shelf life of fish fillets during short-term storage in refrigeration.