Bioactive packaging using antioxidant extracts for the prevention of microbial food-spoilage

Abstract

Bioactive food packaging is an innovative approach for the prevention of the growth of food-spoilage microorganisms. Four active extracts from agroindustrial subproducts (Eucalyptus wood, almond shells, corn cobs and grape pomace) with demonstrated antioxidant activity have been investigated for bestowing antimicrobial activity to bioactive packaging. To carry out this evaluation, the antioxidant extracts were tested against five food pathogenic bacteria, namely, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp. The results obtained showed that all the tested extracts inhibited the growth of all five pathogenic bacteria. From the analysis of the minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs), the Eucalyptus wood extract was the most active, being necessary only 2% (v/v) to inhibit Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus, whereas almond shells extract were less active requiring 4% (w/v) to inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the extract from corn cobs was bactericidal against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus at a concentration of 4% (w/v). After checking their antimicrobial activity, the antioxidant extracts have been incorporated into sodium alginate films and the maintenance of their antimicrobial properties was confirmed. This work showed that the antioxidant extracts from agroindustrial byproducts exhibited antimicrobial activity and were suitable for incorporation into edible films that could be used in bioactive packaging systems.

Characterization of Edible Films Based on Alginate or Whey Protein Incorporated with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 and Prebiotics

“…Both biopolymer-based films showed high brightness values (L* ≥ 93.13), demonstrating that films appeared clear and transparent. The color values for WPI films are in agreement with those reported by Odila Pereira, Soares, Sousa, Madureira, Gomes, and Pintado [3], and color values for ALG films were similar to the values obtained by Moreira, Gullón, Gullón, Gomes, and Tavaria [52]. The ALG-based films exhibited higher luminosity (L*) values than WPI-based films, which could be attributed to their lower solid contents and subsequent lower thickness ( Table 2).…”

“…Generally, food applications may require low water solubility to improve the product integrity and water resistance but, in some cases such as food coatings, a high water solubility might be beneficial [52]. All WPI-based films dissolved in water after 24 h, whereas the solubility among ALG films was of around 70%.…”

Purification, characterization, antioxidant, and antitumor activity of polysaccharides isolated from silkworm cordyceps

“…The ferrous ion chelating capacity was determined using a previously reported method (Moreira, Estévez, Gullón, Gomes, & Tavaria, 2016).…”

Value-Added Compound Recovery from Invasive Forest for Biofunctional Applications: Eucalyptus Species as a Case Study

“…In addition to the antioxidant properties associated with phenolic extracts derived from different biomass of the Myrtaceae family, several studies also reported their role as antimicrobial agents [ 14 , 37 , 41 ]. This is especially interesting because more and more microorganisms are becoming resistant to available antibiotics; thus, there is an urgent need to search for alternative biomolecules that can inhibit the broad spectrum of multidrug-resistant microorganisms [ 20 , 86 ]. Boulekbache-Makhlouf et al [ 4 ] demonstrated the antimicrobial potential of crude extract from the fruit of E. globulus against three bacteria, namely, Staphylococcus aureus , Bacillus subtilis , and Klebsiella pneumoniae .…”