Films of natural polymers incorporated with antimicrobial compounds have attracted increasing interest in food packaging because they release antimicrobial compounds that control the food microbial flora , improve the stability of the foods, and thereby their shelf life. In this sense, natural extracts and compounds with known antimicrobial activity are incorporated into natural polymer films . Extracts of plant species that are known for antimicrobial activity, such as Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hill.