Innovative material containing the natural product curcumin, with enhanced antimicrobial properties for active packaging.

Curcumin (Curc) reacts with zinc di‑iodine (ZnI2 ) in 2:1molar ratio in the presence of an excess of a base triethylamine ((CH3 CH2 )3 N) in methanol (CH3 OH) solution towards the amorphous solid material of formula [ZnI2 (Curc)2 ] (1). The complex was characterized by melting point (m.p.), Fourier Transform-Infra Red (FT-IR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance of hydrogen nucleus (1 H NMR) spectroscopy. The formula of 1 was determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The retention of the structure in solution was confirmed by 1 H NMR spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activity of the complex has been studied against the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAO1). The Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) of the compounds 1 and Curc against P. aeruginosa (PAO1) are: 71.3μΜ (75.3μg/mL) for [ZnI2 (Curc)2 ] and 339μM (125μg/mL) for Curc, respectively. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of the new material which was diffused in polystyrene against biofilm formed by PAO1 was also calculated.