Plant-Based Food Preservatives: An Overview of Some Essential Oils, Spices and Fruit Extracts

Synthetic food additives are widely used to prevent microbial growth in foods and to extend their shelf life. However, in recent years, natural alternatives have been preferred for the use of synthetic preservatives. Some spices, herbs, plant extracts, and essential oils have antimicrobial and antioxidant effects owing to their important bioactive compounds. There are studies on adding natural preservatives directly to foods or incorporating them into packaging systems. Within this context, a remarkable antimicrobial effect of essential oils, spices, and fruit extracts has been recently highlighted. Finally, it is important to carry out further researches to explain the antimicrobial and antioxidant effects of the use of natural preservatives in foods, their interactions with other additives, and their effects on sensory properties. In this review, it is aimed to give general information about some plant-based food preservatives such as essential oils, spices and fruit extracts, their effects and use in foods.