A Comprehensive Review on Significance and Advancements of Antimicrobial Agents in Biodegradable Food Packaging

Extraction of Bioactive Compounds From Centella asiatica and Enlightenment of Its Utilization Into Food Packaging: A Review

Centella asiatica is a medicinal herb, well known for its phytochemical activities because of the presence of terpenoids and polyphenols, which contribute to the bioactivity of herb extract that can be effectively utilized in the packaging industry. Biopolymers infused with C. asiatica extract could be a promising solution in the food sector. The antibacterial and antioxidant qualities of C. asiatica can help preserve the quality and lengthen the freshness of food products, thereby preventing food loss. Selection of a suitable extraction method is essential to retain the yield and properties of the bioactive compounds of C. asiatica extract. Many research has been conducted on the separation of C. asiatica by using conventional and novel extraction techniques and its execution in packaging as a functional component. This review provides an overview of the extraction of phytochemicals from C. asiatica and its utilization in biopolymer film as an active component to modify the packaging film characteristics.

Postbiotics in the Bakery Products: Applications and Nutritional Values

In recent years, the consumption of postbiotics has gained significant attention due to their potential health benefits. However, their application in the bakery industry remains underutilized. This review focuses on recent advances in the use of postbiotics, specifically the metabolites of lactic acid bacteria, in bakery products. We provide a concise overview of the multifaceted benefits of postbiotics, including their role as natural antioxidants, antimicrobials, and preservatives, and their potential to enhance product quality, extend shelf-life, and contribute to consumer welfare. This review combines information from various sources to provide a comprehensive update on recent advances in the role of postbiotics in bakery products, subsequently discussing the concept of sourdough as a leavening agent and its role in improving the nutritional profile of bakery products. We highlighted the positive effects of postbiotics on bakery items, such as improved texture, flavor, and shelf life, as well as their potential to contribute to overall health through their antioxidant properties and their impact on gut health. Overall, this review emphasizes the promising potential of postbiotics to revolutionize the bakery industry and promote healthier and more sustainable food options. The integration of postbiotics into bakery products represents a promising frontier and offers innovative possibilities to increase product quality, reduce food waste, and improve consumer health. Further research into refining techniques to incorporate postbiotics into bakery products is essential for advancing the health benefits and eco-friendly nature of these vital food items.

Antimicrobial Polymer Films with Grape Seed and Skin Extracts for Food Packaging

The development of antimicrobial food packaging is a very important and current goal, but it still difficult to implement in practice. Reducing microbial contamination and preserving food quality are very important tasks for food manufacturers as the use of antimicrobial packaging can preserve the health of consumers. On the other hand, the difficulty of degrading packaging materials, leading to environmental pollution, is also an important problem. These problems can be solved by using biodegradable biopolymers and antimicrobial agents in the production of food packaging. Very suitable antimicrobial agents are grape seed and skin extracts as they have high antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity and are obtained from grape pomace, a waste product of winemaking. The present review presents the valuable bioactive compounds contained in grape seeds and skins, the methods used to obtain the extracts, and their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Then, the application of grape seed and skin extracts for the production of antimicrobial packaging is reviewed. Emphasis is placed on antimicrobial packaging based on various biopolymers. Special attention is also paid to the application of the extract of grape skins to obtain intelligent indicator packages for the continuous monitoring of the freshness and quality of foods. The focus is mainly placed on the antimicrobial properties of the packaging against different types of microorganisms and their applications for food packaging. The presented data prove the good potential of grape seed and skin extracts to be used as active agents in the preparation of antimicrobial food packaging.

Antimicrobial activity of chitosan- edible films containing a combination of carvacrol and rosemary nano-emulsion against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes for ground meat

This research aimed to assess the potential of active food packaging as an innovative approach to enhance the quality of fresh food products. Specifically, our focus was on developing chitosan edible films combined with rosemary nanoemulsion (Ch-RNE) and carvacrol nano-emulsion (Ch-CNE) as effective antibacterial food packaging solutions. The efficacy of these films against artificially inoculated L. monocytogenes (NCTC 13372\ ATCC® 7644) as a Gram-positive bacterium, and S. enterica serovar Typhimurium (ATCC 14028) as a Gram-negative bacterium, in ground meat was investigated. The size of the prepared nano-emulsions was characterized using zeta sizer, FTIR and HRTEM. The MIC of both nano-emulsions against both pathogens was found to be 0.78 % and 1.56 %. Filmogenic mixtures were casted using these concentrations, which were then dried and evaluated for their physical and mechanical properties.

Fabrication and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticle-Doped Chitosan/Carboxymethyl Cellulose Nanocomposites for Optoelectronic and Biological Applications

The synthesis of nanoparticles using environmentally friendly methods for applications in fields such as food packaging and biomedicine has been gaining increasing attention. Organic-inorganic nanostructures offer opportunities to create innovative materials suitable for use in optoelectronics and biological applications. In this study, we focused on producing nanocomposite films by blending carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and chitosan (CS) polymers in equal proportions (50/50 wt %) and adding silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) through a solution casting process. Our objective was to examine how the introduction of Ag NPs influenced the structural, optical, mechanical, electrical, and antibacterial properties of the virgin CMC/CS composites. XRD patterns of the prepared samples indicated the presence of crystalline Ag phases within the CMC/CS blend. FT-IR spectroscopy showed the primary vibrational peaks associated with CMC and CS, which exhibited reduced intensity after the addition of Ag NPs. The UV absorption of the nanocomposites exhibited a gradual increase and a shift toward longer wavelengths. The electrical properties are enhanced with higher concentrations of Ag NPs. An increase in the content of Ag NPs resulted in a corresponding enhancement of antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The CMC/CS-Ag-doped films demonstrated significant enhancements in Young's modulus (Y), tensile stress (σt), and elongation at break (εB). These findings suggest that these nanocomposite films hold promise for potential applications in optoelectronics and biological fields.

Development of Plumeria alba extract supplemented biodegradable films containing chitosan and cellulose derived from bagasse and corn cob waste for antimicrobial food packaging

With the increase in global plastic pollution due to conventional plastic packaging (petroleum-derived), bioplastics have emerged as an alternative green source for practising a circular economy. This research aimed to extract cellulose from bagasse and corn cob waste and utilized in mixed form to prepare bioplastic film. The mixed cellulose was further reinforced with natural substances such as chitosan, bentonite, and P. alba extract. These newly developed bioplastics films were characterized by various physical tests like film thickness, moisture content, water solubility and spectroscopic techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopic (SEM-EDX), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy for opacity testing. The results revealed the enhanced bioplastic thermal and mechanical characteristics through robust interactions between cellulose and bentonite molecules. Moreover, incorporating chitosan solution as reinforcements in bio-composite films resulted in improved water barrier properties. The results indicated lower absorption in the UV range of 250-400 nm, attributed to the absence of UV-absorbing groups. Finally, their biodegradability was tested in soil, and 85.3 % weight loss of bioplastic films was observed after 50 days of the experiment which is the main task of this research. The antimicrobial properties of bioplastic films have been evaluated, and showed an inhibition zone of 16 mm against E. coli. After 12 days of incubation of sherbet berries, complete spoilage is identified in the control group compared to those covered with the bioplastic film. This outcome is attributed to the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities provided by chitosan and P. alba extract in the bioplastic film. The comprehensive outcomes of this study suggest the potential future adoption of these entirely bio-derived, environmentally sustainable and biodegradable bioplastic films as a viable substitute for the plastic packaging currently present in the market.

Edible packaging as sustainable alternative to synthetic plastic: a comprehensive review

The choice of an appropriate packaging materials enhances the shelf life and improves quality of food during transportation, storage, and distribution. Development and innovations in food packaging systems have become essential in the food industry. Most widely used packaging materials are non-biodegradable plastics and are harmful to environment and human health. Thus, food industry is replacing non-biodegradable plastics with biodegradable plastics to reduce environmental pollution, health hazards, and food waste. Edible packaging may reduce food waste and keep perishables fresh. This review article compares edible packaging materials to synthetic ones and discusses their pollution-reducing effects. The several types of food packaging discussed in the review include those produced from polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and composite films. The various characteristics of edible packaging are reviewed, including its barrier qualities, carrier properties, mechanical capabilities, and edibility. The carrier properties describe the capacity to transport and manage the release of active substances, and the edibility indicates acceptance of these items by the customers. Plasticizers, antimicrobials, antioxidants, and emulsifiers were included in the edible packaging to enhance the characteristics of the film. The development and implementation of edible packaging on food products from the laboratory to large-scale industrial levels, as well as their potential industrial applications in the dairy, meat, confectionary, poultry, fish, fruit, and vegetable processing sectors are addressed.

Recent advances in carboxymethyl cellulose-based active and intelligent packaging materials: A comprehensive review

Researchers have concentrated on innovative approaches to increase the shelf life of perishable food products and monitor their quality during storage and transportation as consumer demand for safe, environmentally friendly, and effective packaging develops. This comprehensive review aims to provide an overview of recent developments in carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) chemical synthesis and its applications in active and intelligent packaging materials. It explores various methods for modifying cellulose to produce CMC and highlights the unique properties that make it suitable for addressing packaging industry challenges. The integration of CMC into active packaging systems, which helps reduce food waste and enhance food preservation, is discussed in depth. Furthermore, the integration of CMC in smart sensors and indicators for real-time monitoring and quality assurance in intelligent packaging is examined. The chemical synthesis of CMC and strategies to optimise its properties were studied, and the review concluded by examining the challenges and prospects of CMC-based packaging in the industry. This review is intended to serve as a valuable resource for researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers interested in the evolving landscape of CMC and its role in shaping the future of packaging materials.

Biological Activities of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Green Synthesized Using the Aqueous Extract of Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss

BACKGROUND

Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss. is known as a native medicinal plant of Iran.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, aqueous extract of D. kotschyi was used to synthesize ZnO-NPs. To produce ZnO-NPs, aerial parts of D. kotschyi were powdered and then macerated for obtaining aqueous extract, after that, aqueous extract was used to reduse zinc nitrate to ZnO-NPs.

METHODS

To confirm nanoparticles synthesis, SEM, TEM, UV-Vis, FTIR, and XRD were used. The synthesized ZnO-NPs were studied for antimicrobial activities by microdilution method for calculating MIC and MBC. Analysis of ZnO-NPs confirmed successful synthesis by extract of D. kotschyi.

RESULTS

The sizes of ZnO-NPs were estimated 50-200 nm in diameter. Antibacterial and antifungal experiments showed potent activities against Staphylococos aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. The results of the studies showed that the nanoparticles synthesized with the aqueous extract of D. kotschyi have a much greater antimicrobial effect than the aqueous extract of D. kotschyi and zinc nanoparticles, each alone (MIC values 3.7 to 7.5 mg/ml).

CONCLUSION

The noteworthy point is that the inhibitory rate of synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles is higher compared to broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as chloramphenicol (MIC values 15 mg/ml). Determining the therapeutic and toxic dose of this product for humans requires further investigation and clinical trials.

Multifunctional Application of Biopolymers and Biomaterials

Biopolymers and biomaterials are two interconnected key topics, which have recently drawn significant attention from researchers across all fields, owing to the emerging potential in multifunctional use [...].