LAUSR

Abstract Galbanum, an aromatic oleo-resin gum, is produced from umbelliferous Persian plant species in the genus Ferula with the common Persian name “Barije”, chiefly endemic flora of the mountain ranges of northern Iran. Ziziphora persica is an edible medicinal plant, which is widely distributed in Iran, Turkey and Eurasian countries. The aims of the present research were to produce novel bioactive edible coatings based on sodium alginate (Alg), galbanum oleo-resin gum (GG) and the biocomposite of alginate and galbanum (CAG) containing different concentration of Ziziphora essential oil (ZEO), and evaluate the antioxidant and the antimicrobial activities of these substances in vitro and their effect on the quality and shelf life of chicken fillet during cold storage. Overall, the MIC and MBC values of GG and ZEO extracts ranging from 1.25 to 50 (μg mL −1 ) proved that gram-positive bacteria were more susceptible to GG and ZEO than gram-negative bacteria. The high phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities of GG and ZEO were proved by in vitro analysis. Results showed that coatings of Alg had no significant effect on decreasing the microbial load of aerobic mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, Pseudomonas spp., and Enterobacteriaceae , as well as L. monocytogenes (p > 0.05), while the coating of fillet with GG, CAG alone and in combination with ZEO showed a significant differences with the other treatments during 12 days of storage (p