Antibacterial activity, optical, and functional properties of corn starch-based films impregnated with bamboo leaf volatile oil

•BVO was incorporated into starch films using a solution casting method.•EAB and surface roughness are improved by adding BVO to as-prepared films.•The addition of BVO can reduce the TS, MC, and WVP.•Adding BVO to corn starch films can reduce gloss.•Corn starch-based films formulated with BVO showed an antimicrobial effect. In this study, the optical, morphological, antibacterial, and physical properties of corn starch-based films prepared by a solution casting method were investigated after adding various levels of bamboo leaf volatile oil (BVO, 0.5, 1, and 2%). Further, the roughness was measured by atomic force microscopy and the antibacterial activities were tested by agar diffusion method. We found that the thickness (TC) and elongation at break (EAB) of the corn starch-based films increased significantly (Duncan's range test, P