Extending the shelf life of fresh produce using sustainable, bio-based preservation methods is an exciting and rapidly growing area of research, driven by the need to reduce food waste and meet consumer demand for chemical-free alternatives. This study presents the development of an alginate-based active edible coating incorporating Brassica juncea (GM) and Raphanus sativus (RT) sprout extracts to prolong tomato shelf life. The coating was prepared by modifying glycerol-plasticized alginate (A) with zein/chitosan (Z/CH) microparticles (MPs) containing the sprout extracts as bioactive antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. The physicochemical properties of the films were characterized using FTIR, SEM, TGA/DSC, contact angle, water vapor permeability, and tensile testing. FTIR analysis revealed interactions between alginate and MPs, TGA confirmed thermal stability, SEM showed uniform MP dispersion, and tensile tests indicated improved flexibility with extract addition, enhancing coating suitability. Encapsulated extracts increased antioxidant activity, achieving 52 % DPPH inhibition for GM and 70 % for RT. The antimicrobial assay demonstrated that RT-formulated films showed moderate biocidal activity against Bacillus cereus and Salmonella enterica, highlighting their potential to improve food safety. Furthermore, tomato shelf-life testing revealed a 30-day extension using RT-loaded MPs, with no visible changes in appearance or texture. These findings suggest that encapsulating RT in plasticized alginate coatings enhances tomato longevity and quality, supporting the use of edible films for active food packaging applications.
Development of alginate-based active edible coating with Brassica juncea and Raphanus sativus sprout extracts to extend tomato shelf-life / Moeini, Arash; Salazar, Sarai Agustin; Gargiulo, Luca; Dougué Kentsop, Roméo Arago; Mattana, Monica; Genga, Annamaria; Josi, Christin; Pedram, Parisa; Cabrera-Barjas, Gustavo; Guerra, Simona; Marvasi, Massimiliano; Becker, Thomas; Cerruti, Pierfrancesco. - In: FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS. - ISSN 0268-005X. - STAMPA. - 170:(2025), pp. 0-0. [10.1016/j.foodhyd.2025.111693]
Development of alginate-based active edible coating with Brassica juncea and Raphanus sativus sprout extracts to extend tomato shelf-life
Marvasi, Massimiliano;
2025
Abstract
Extending the shelf life of fresh produce using sustainable, bio-based preservation methods is an exciting and rapidly growing area of research, driven by the need to reduce food waste and meet consumer demand for chemical-free alternatives. This study presents the development of an alginate-based active edible coating incorporating Brassica juncea (GM) and Raphanus sativus (RT) sprout extracts to prolong tomato shelf life. The coating was prepared by modifying glycerol-plasticized alginate (A) with zein/chitosan (Z/CH) microparticles (MPs) containing the sprout extracts as bioactive antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. The physicochemical properties of the films were characterized using FTIR, SEM, TGA/DSC, contact angle, water vapor permeability, and tensile testing. FTIR analysis revealed interactions between alginate and MPs, TGA confirmed thermal stability, SEM showed uniform MP dispersion, and tensile tests indicated improved flexibility with extract addition, enhancing coating suitability. Encapsulated extracts increased antioxidant activity, achieving 52 % DPPH inhibition for GM and 70 % for RT. The antimicrobial assay demonstrated that RT-formulated films showed moderate biocidal activity against Bacillus cereus and Salmonella enterica, highlighting their potential to improve food safety. Furthermore, tomato shelf-life testing revealed a 30-day extension using RT-loaded MPs, with no visible changes in appearance or texture. These findings suggest that encapsulating RT in plasticized alginate coatings enhances tomato longevity and quality, supporting the use of edible films for active food packaging applications.
I documenti in FLORE sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
