Antimicrobial polyphenol-rich extracts: Applications and limitations in the food industry

One of the common ways to prevent food spoilage throughout product’s shelf life is by using artificial/synthetic preservatives. However, the growing negative perception of consumers over synthetic preservatives has encouraged the food industry to consider their natural alternatives. Plant extracts, increasingly recognized as consumer-friendly, represent a valuable source of active compounds, mostly polyphenols, with potent antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities. Hence, this article focuses mainly on the antimicrobial activity of plant-based polyphenol-rich extracts as well as on their potential use and limitations in the food industry. Some new trends such as antimicrobial food packaging combined with plant extracts and photodynamic inactivation (PDI) combined with a natural photosensitiser, curcumin, are discussed as well.