Introduction: In the present study, the effect of coating chicken fillets with chitosan containing Ziziphora clinopodioides essential oil on their microbial, chemical, and sensory properties was investigated under inappropriate refrigerated conditions (8°C). Materials and Methods: The total count of psychrotrophic and mesophilic aerobic bacteria, pH, and thiobarbituric acid index (TBARS) were determined over 12 days (at 3-day intervals). The sensory properties of the samples, including color, flavor, and odor, were also evaluated until the third day of storage. Findings: The results of bacterial count analysis indicated that the combined use of chitosan and Ziziphora clinopodioides essential oil significantly reduced the growth rate of mesophilic aerobic and psychrotrophic bacteria (p < 0.05). The chemical analyses demonstrated that in chitosan-coated samples, increasing the concentration of Ziziphora clinopodioides essential oil resulted in a lower rate of increase in TBARS and pH values over the 12-day refrigeration period (p < 0.05). Sensory evaluation of chicken fillets revealed that in terms of color, the control sample had the lowest score (6.0), whereas the sample coated with chitosan containing 1.0% Ziziphora clinopodioides essential oil received the highest score (8.5). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that increasing the level of Ziziphora clinopodioides essential oil in chitosan-coated samples led to fewer undesirable changes in the product’s characteristics, thereby better preserving its quality.
Afifi M R, Bagherikia H. Application of Chitosan Edible Coating Containing ZizipHora L. clinopodioides Essential Oil to Extend the Shelf Life of Chicken Fillets at Inappropriate Refrigerated Temperature criitical conditions. NPWJM 2025; 13 (46) : 4 URL: http://npwjm.ajaums.ac.ir/article-1-1064-en.html