Neem oil and its nanoemulsion in sustainable food preservation and packaging: Current status and future prospects

Neem oil is a natural, bioactive plant extract obtained primarily from neem seeds. It has excellent antimicrobial, antioxidant, pesticidal and insecticidal properties rendering it an attractive alternative to synthetic chemicals in application of food preservation, packaging and storage. Neem oil and its components (e.g., azadirachtin) have been used in storage of food grains for many years. Photosensitivity, rapid degradation, and impact(s) on sensory qualities of food pose major challenges against applications in food preservation and packaging. Nanoemulsions of neem oil are gaining extensive research attention in various fields including food and agriculture sectors, as they are more stable, efficient, and possess improved functionalities. Neem oil or its nanoemulsion has also been used in chitosan, starch, or pectin based active packaging of foods including fruits and vegetables. Numerous studies have reported that careful use of neem oil and its components in food preservation, packaging, and coatings are for human health and also environment-friendly. The current review briefly insight the chemistry, functional properties of neem oil, advanced delivery system, nanoemulsion preparation techniques, various applications of neem oil and nanoemulsion for food preservation and packaging and also risk assessment on human health and environments along with current and future prospects.