Properties and antioxidant action of actives cassava starch films incorporated with green tea and palm oil extracts

Intelligent and active biodegradable biopolymeric films containing carotenoids

There is growing interest in the use of natural bioactive compounds for the development of new bio-based materials for intelligent and active food packaging applications. Several beneficial effects have been associated with the antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials of carotenoid compounds. In addition, carotenoids are sensitive to pH changes and oxidation reactions, which make them useful bioindicators of food deterioration. This review summarizes the current research on the application of carotenoids as novel intelligent and active biodegradable food packaging materials. Carotenoids recovered from food processing by-products can be used in the development of active food packaging materials due to their antioxidant properties. They help maintain the stability of lipid-rich foods, such as vegetable oils. Additionally, when incorporated into films, carotenoids can monitor food oxidation, providing intelligent functionalities.

Influence of Epilobium parviflorum Herbal Extract on Physicochemical Properties of Thermoplastic Starch Films

In this study, for the first time, Epilobium parviflorum Schreb. (E, hoary willowherb) aqueous extract was introduced into edible biopolymer films and its influence on physicochemical properties of the final products were investigated. Potato starch was gelatinized in the herbal tea to obtain thermoplastic starch (TPS) films via the casting method. The characterization of the films included mechanical, antioxidative, water (WVTR, contact angle, swelling degree) and UV radiation barrier properties as well as microstructure analysis (SEM). Obtained results indicated that the presence of the extract (rich in phenolic compounds) in the films acted as a co-plasticizer for starch and led to a higher elongation at break, up to 70%, with a parallel increase in tensile strength up to ca. 9 MPa. Moreover, TPS films with E exhibited lower WVTR values and absorption of UV light in comparison with the control TPS film. DPPH scavenging activity of TPS E films immersed in methanol was ca. 92%, and it was related to the release of the extract into liquid media. Novel TPS E films are characterized by multifunctional properties that can be used, e.g., in the active packaging sector.

Characterization of Cassava Starch Extruded Sheets Incorporated with Tucumã Oil Microparticles

The application of biopolymers and feasible technologies to obtain sheets is crucial for the large-scale production of food packages and for reducing plastic pollution. Additionally, the inclusion of additives in sheets can affect and improve their properties. This work aimed to incorporate tucumã oil (TO) and TO microparticles produced by spray drying (SD), spray chilling (SC), and their combination (SDC) into extruded cassava starch sheets and to evaluate the effect of such addition on their physical, optical, and mechanical properties. Gum Arabic and vegetable fat were used as wall materials for SD and SC/SDC, respectively. The sheets enriched with tucumã oil (FO) and the microparticles produced by SD, SC and SDC (FSD, FSC, and FSDC, respectively) presented yellow color (hue angle around 90°) and higher opacity (11.6–25.3%) when compared to the control (6.3%). All sheets showed high thickness (1.3–1.8 mm), and the additives reduced the water solubility of the materials (from 27.11% in the control to 24.67–25.54% in enriched samples). The presence of large SDC particles, as evidenced by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), caused discontinuity of the sheet structure and decreased mechanical strength of the FSDC. One may conclude that potential active packages were obtained by extrusion of cassava starch sheets added with pure and encapsulated TO.

Recent advances of antibacterial starch-based materials

Starch has attracted a lot of attention because it is biodegradable, renewable, nontoxic and low cost. By adding antibacterial substances to starch, starch-based materials have antibacterial properties. The composite with other materials can improve the comprehensive performance of starch-based materials, thus broadening the application field of the material. In this paper, we focus on antibacterial starch-based materials and review their preparation and applications. It was found that antibacterial starch-based materials were most widely used in packaging, followed by medicine, and the research on smart starch-based materials was relatively less. This review may provide some reference value for subsequent studies of starch-based materials.

Cassava starch films for food packaging: Trends over the last decade and future research

Cassava starch is one of the most available and cost-effective biopolymers. This work aimed to apply a bibliometric methodology to identify the most impactful scientific data on cassava starch and its residues for food packaging in the last ten years. As a result, an increasing interest in this subject has been observed, mainly in the past five years. Among the 85 selected scientific publications, Brazil and China have been leading the research on starch-based films, accounting for 39 % of the total. The International Journal of Biological Macromolecules was the main scientific source of information. Besides cassava starch, 41.18 % of these studies added other biopolymers, 5.88 % added synthetic polymers, and 4.71 % added a combination of both. Studies analyzed suggested that different modifications in starch can improve films' mechanical and barrier properties. In addition, 52.94 % of articles evaluated the film's bioactivity. Still, only 37.65 % assessed the performance of those films as food packaging, suggesting that more studies should be conducted on assessing the potential of these alternative packages. Future research should consider scale-up methods for film production, including cost analysis, assessment life cycle, and the impact on the safety and quality of a broader range of foods.

Recent Advances in Starch-Based Blends and Composites for Bioplastics Applications

Environmental pollution by synthetic polymers is a global problem and investigating substitutes for synthetic polymers is a major research area. Starch can be used in formulating bioplastic materials, mainly as blends or composites with other polymers. The major drawbacks of using starch in such applications are water sensitivity and poor mechanical properties. Attempts have been made to improve the mechanical properties of starch-based blends and composites, by e.g., starch modification or plasticization, matrix reinforcement, and polymer blending. Polymer blending can bring synergetic benefits to blends and composites, but necessary precautions must be taken to ensure the compatibility of hydrophobic polymers and hydrophilic starch. Genetic engineering offers new possibilities to modify starch inplanta in a manner favorable for bioplastics applications, while the incorporation of antibacterial and/or antioxidant agents into starch-based food packaging materials brings additional advantages. In conclusion, starch is a promising material for bioplastic production, with great potential for further improvements. This review summarizes the recent advances in starch-based blends and composites and highlights the potential strategies for overcoming the major drawbacks of using starch in bioplastics applications.

Effect on the Properties of Edible Starch-Based Films by the Incorporation of Additives: A Review

At present, people more actively pursuing biodegradable-based food packaging to lower the environmental problems of plastic-based packaging. Starch could become a promising alternative to plastic because of its properties (easily available, nontoxic, tasteless, biodegradable, ecofriendly, and edible). This review article is focused mainly on the impact of the properties of starch-based biodegradable films, such as their thickness, morphology, and optical, water-barrier, mechanical, oxygen-barrier, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, after the incorporation of additives, and how such films fulfill the demands of the manufacturing of biodegradable and edible food-based film with preferable performance. The incorporation of additives in starch-based films is largely explained by its functioning as a filler, as shown via a reduction in water and oxygen permeability, increased thickness, and better mechanical properties. Additives also showed antimicrobial and antioxidant properties in the films/coatings, which would positively impact the shelf life of coated or wrapped food material.

Promising New Material for Food Packaging: An Active and Intelligent Carrageenan Film with Natural Jaboticaba Additive

This research focused on the development of active and intelligent films based on a carrageenan biopolymer incorporated with jaboticaba peels extract (JPE). The bioactive extract was obtained by maceration extraction and showed high concentrations of total phenolic content (TP), total anthocyanin (TA), cyanidin-3-glucoside (Cn-3-Glu), antioxidant activity (AA), and microbial inhibition (MI) against E. coli, being promising for use as a natural additive in food packaging. The carrageenan films were produced using the casting technique, incorporating different concentrations of JPE, and characterized. The results of the thickness and Young’s modulus of the film increased in the films supplemented with JPE and the addition of the extract showed a decrease in elongation capacity and tensile strength, in water vapor permeability, and a lower rate of swelling in the water. In addition, the incorporation of JPE into the polymeric matrix promotes a change in the color of the films when compared to the control film and improves the opacity property. This is a positive effect as the material has a UV-vis light barrier which is interesting for food packaging. The increase in the active potential of the films was directly proportional to the concentration of JPE. The films results showed visible changes from purple to brown when in contact with different pH, which means that films have an intelligent potential. Accordingly, this novel carrageenan based-film incorporated with JPE could be a great strategy to add natural additives into packaging material to obtain an active potential and also an indicator for monitoring food in intelligent packaging.

Biodegradable blend films of poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(propylene carbonate) for shelf life extension of whole white button mushrooms

Blend films with poly(ε-caprolactone)(PCL) and poly(propylene carbonate)(PPC)with thickness of approximately 40 μm and 60 μm, respectively, were prepared using a uniaxial-stretching extrusion process to modify the property of PCL. PCL/PPC blend films with better comprehensive properties with thickness about 60 μm were used for equilibrium-modified atmosphere packaging of button mushrooms at 5 °C. The gas barrier property together with water vapor permeability were evaluated as well as its effects on the shelf life button mushrooms. The results showed that the PCL/PPC20 and PCL/PPC50 blend films have suitable gas barrier property and water vapor permeability, which was helpful to generate an appropriate storage environment and more importantly no condensation occurred in these two packages. The lower weight loss of button mushrooms was observed for PCL/PPC20 and PCL/PPC50 blend films 4.43 and 4.46, respectively. The PCL/PPC blend films was more effective in decreasing the activity of PPO and preserving the color of the button mushrooms. The over market acceptability of button mushrooms packaged in PCL/PPC blend films still maintained good and within the limit of marketability after 17 days of storage.

Bioactive Edible Films and Coatings Based in Gums and Starch: Phenolic Enrichment and Foods Application

Edible films and coatings allow preserving fresh and processed food, maintaining quality, preventing microbial contamination and/or oxidation reactions and increasing the shelf life of food products. The structural matrix of edible films and coatings is mainly constituted by proteins, lipids or polysaccharides. However, it is possible to increase the bioactive potential of these polymeric matrices by adding phenolic compounds obtained from plant extracts. Phenolic compounds are known to possess several biological properties such as antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Incorporating phenolic compounds enriched plant extracts in edible films and coatings contribute to preventing food spoilage/deterioration and the extension of shelf life. This review is focused on edible films and coatings based on gums and starch. Special attention is given to bioactive edible films and coatings incorporating plant extracts enriched in phenolic compounds.

Edible Films on Meat and Meat Products

In 2018, the worldwide consumption of meat was 346.14 million tonnes, and this is expected to increase in the future. As meat consumption increases, the use of packaging materials is expected to increase along with it. Petrochemical packaging materials which are widely used in the meat processing industry, take a long time to regenerate and biodegrade, thus they adversely affect the environment. Therefore, the necessity for the development of eco-friendly packaging materials for meat processing, which are easily degradable and recyclable, came to the fore. The objective of this review is to describe the application of natural compound-derived edible films with their antioxidant and antibacterial activities in meat and meat products. For several decades, polysaccharides (cellulose, starch, pectin, gum, alginate, carrageenan and chitosan), proteins (milk, collagen and isolated soy protein) and lipids (essential oil, waxes, emulsifiers, plasticizers and resins) were studied as basic materials for edible films to reduce plastic packaging. There are still high consumer demands for eco-friendly alternatives to petrochemical-based plastic packaging, and edible films can be used in a variety of ways in meat processing. More efforts to enhance the physiological and functional properties of edible films are needed for commercial application to meat and meat products.

Microbial Colorants Production in Stirred-Tank Bioreactor and Their Incorporation in an Alternative Food Packaging Biomaterial

Natural colorants from microbial fermentation have gained significant attention in the market to replace the synthetic ones. Talaromyces spp. produce yellow-orange-red colorants, appearing as a potential microorganism to be used for this purpose. In this work, the production of natural colorants by T. amestolkiae in a stirred-tank bioreactor is studied, followed by its application as additives in bio-based films. The effect of the pH-shift control strategy from 4.5 to 8.0 after 96 h of cultivation is evaluated at 500 rpm, resulting in an improvement of natural colorant production, with this increase being more significant for the orange and red ones, both close to 4-fold. Next, the fermented broth containing the colorants is applied to the preparation of cassava starch-based films in order to incorporate functional activity in biodegradable films for food packaging. The presence of fermented broth did not affect the water activity and total solids of biodegradable films as compared with the standard one. In the end, the films are used to pack butter samples (for 45 days) showing excellent results regarding antioxidant activity. It is demonstrated that the presence of natural colorants is obtained by a biotechnology process, which can provide protection against oxidative action, as well as be a functional food additive in food packing biomaterials.

Physical and Antioxidant Properties of Cassava Starch-Carboxymethyl Cellulose Incorporated with Quercetin and TBHQ as Active Food Packaging

Antioxidant integration has been advocated for in polymer films, to exert their antioxidative effects in active packaging. In this study, the new antioxidant food packaging made from cassava starch–carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), which is biodegradable, edible and inexpensive, was developed. Their properties were determined and applied in food models for application. Antioxidants (quercetin and tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ)) were added at various concentrations into cassava starch–carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) (7:3 w/w) films containing glycerol (30 g/100 g starch–CMC) as a plasticizer. The effects of quercetin and TBHQ concentrations on the mechanical properties, solubility, antioxidative activity, and applications of the films were investigated. Addition of antioxidant improved tensile strength, but reduced elongation at break of the cassava starch–CMC film. Cassava starch–CMC films containing quercetin showed higher tensile strength, but lower elongation at break, compared to films with TBHQ. Increases in quercetin and TBHQ content decreased water solubility in the films. Both the total phenolic content and antioxidative activity (DPPH scavenging assay) still remained in films during storage time (30 days). In application, cassava starch–CMC film containing quercetin and TBHQ can retard the oxidation of lard (35–70 days) and delay the discoloration of pork.

Vegetable Additives in Food Packaging Polymeric Materials

Plants are the most abundant bioresources, providing valuable materials that can be used as additives in polymeric materials, such as lignocellulosic fibers, nano-cellulose, or lignin, as well as plant extracts containing bioactive phenolic and flavonoid compounds used in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and nutraceutical industries. The incorporation of additives into polymeric materials improves their properties to make them suitable for multiple applications. Efforts are made to incorporate into the raw polymers various natural biobased and biodegradable additives with a low environmental fingerprint, such as by-products, biomass, plant extracts, etc. In this review we will illustrate in the first part recent examples of lignocellulosic materials, lignin, and nano-cellulose as reinforcements or fillers in various polymer matrices and in the second part various applications of plant extracts as active ingredients in food packaging materials based on polysaccharide matrices (chitosan/starch/alginate).

Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Active Food Packaging: Technological and Scientific Prospection

BACKGROUND

Antimicrobial and antioxidant packaging play an important role in the food industry by ensuring food quality and prolonging the product's shelf life. Therefore, this scientific survey covers the technological domain in the active food packaging development processes and types of packaging.

METHODS

This paper aims to provide a review of patents and scientific publications on active packaging with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties in order to show technological advances in this field of knowledge and its applicability in the food industry.

RESULTS

The patent review indicates an increase in the number of documents deposited in recent decades regarding various types of packaging formulations, particularly active packaging to preserve foods and their shelf life. In the last few decades, the scientific publication also includes several studies concerning the development of active food packaging using natural products with antimicrobial and antioxidant proprieties. Overall, the results show the advantages of incorporating natural products into polymer matrices to develop industrial packaging, providing a safe and high-quality food product to the consumer. On the other hand, the review also highlighted lack of cooperation between inventors and companies of active packaging development.

CONCLUSION

Further study in this regard would help provide data form research and patents on the active food-packaging field as well as economic issues, indicating the global development scenario of this innovative area.

Functional characterization of biopolymer based composite film: Incorporation of natural essential oils and antimicrobial agents

Rosemary (REO), mint essential oil (MEO), nisin and lactic acid were incorporated at 0.5% to develop a novel functional packaging film including chitosan pectin and starch polymers (0.75:1.5:0.75 w/w). Inclusion of REO and nisin significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved water barrier properties (0.014 g.mm/m²24h), tensile strength (25.95 MPa) and thermal stability as compared to control. ATR-FTIR spectra and XRD pattern elucidated structural interaction between EO's and biocomposite films. Addition of REO of and nisin increased microsctructural heterogeneity and opacity (2.78). Incorporation of REO and nisin exhibited the highest inhibitory activity against all tested pathogenic strains (Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes). The antioxidant properties of biocomposite films were analyzed using reducing power, metal chelation, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, which enhanced significantly (p ≤ 0.05) with the addition of MEO and REO. This study validated that incorporation of natural additives in active biocomposite films offers promising functional ingredients for packaging materials for various food applications.

Elaboration and Characterization of Active Apple Starch Films Incorporated with Ellagic Acid

Apple starch films were obtained from apples harvested at 60, 70, 80 and 90 days after full bloom (DAFB). Mechanical properties and water vapor permeability (WVP) were evaluated. The apple starch films at 70 DAFB presented higher values in the variables of tensile strength (8.12 MPa), elastic modulus (3.10 MPa) and lower values of water vapor permeability (6.77 × 10−11 g m−1 s−1 Pa−1) than apple starch films from apples harvested at 60, 80 and 90 DAFB. Therefore, these films were chosen to continue the study incorporating ellagic acid (EA). The EA was added at three concentrations [0.02% (FILM-EA0.02%), 0.05% (FILM-EA0.05%) and 0.1% (FILM-EA0.1%) w/w] and compared with the apple starch films without EA (FILM-Control). The films were characterized by their physicochemical, optical, morphological and mechanical properties. Their thermal stability and antioxidant capacity were also evaluated. The FILM-Control and FILM-EA0.02% showed a uniform surface, while FILM-EA0.05% and FILM-EA0.1% showed a rough surface and insoluble EA particles. Compared to FILM-Control, EA modified the values of tensile strength, elasticity modulus and elongation at break. The antioxidant capacity increased as EA concentration did. EA incorporation allowed obtaining films with higher antioxidant capacity, capable of blocking UV light with better mechanical properties than film without EA.

Development and preparation of active starch films carrying tea polyphenol

Starch films incorporated with tea polyphenol (TP) were developed to produce active food packaging. The effect of the incorporation of TP with different content on the structure, physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity of the starch films was systematically evaluated. Results showed that TP was well dispersed in the starch matrix, which induced a slight influence on the surface and barrier properties of the films. TP addition led to an important improvement in antioxidant capability, as well as inhibition efficiency against the microorganisms of S. aureus and E. coli. However, a decrease in mechanical properties of films was observed. Moreover, a new automatic counting method which combined the computer vision and machine learning algorithm was developed to identify and count the colonies, and the method performed much faster without subjective uncertainty.

Chronic Inflammatory Diseases and Green Tea Polyphenols

Chronic inflammatory diseases affect millions of people globally and the incidence rate is on the rise. While inflammation contributes to the tissue healing process, chronic inflammation can lead to life-long debilitation and loss of tissue function and organ failure. Chronic inflammatory diseases include hepatic, gastrointestinal and neurodegenerative complications which can lead to malignancy. Despite the millennial advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, there remains no effective cure for patients who suffer from inflammatory diseases. Therefore, patients seek alternatives and complementary agents as adjunct therapies to relieve symptoms and possibly to prevent consequences of inflammation. It is well known that green tea polyphenols (GrTPs) are potent antioxidants with important roles in regulating vital signaling pathways. These comprise transcription nuclear factor-kappa B mediated I kappa B kinase complex pathways, programmed cell death pathways like caspases and B-cell lymphoma-2 and intervention with the surge of inflammatory markers like cytokines and production ofcyclooxygenase-2. This paper concisely reviews relevant investigations regarding protective effects of GrTPs and some reported adverse effects, as well as possible applications for GrTPs in the treatment of chronic and inflammatory complications.

High doses of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate from green tea induces cardiac fibrosis in mice

OBJECTIVE

Tea is the most consumed beverage in the world. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major green tea polyphenol, is effective in the prevention of several chronic diseases, and is marketed as part of many dietary supplements. We have now examined the myocardiotoxic effect of high doses of EGCG in mice.

RESULTS

EGCG (500 and 1000 mg/kg·d) induced cardiac collagen synthesis and fibrosis-related protein expression, such as connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and fibronectin (FN) in mice. Moreover, EGCG decreased the protein expression of p-AMPK and increased the levels of p-p70S6 K and p-S6.

CONCLUSION

This is the first evidence that high oral doses of EGCG could induce cardiac fibrosis, and shed new light on the understanding of EGCG-mediated myocardiotoxicity.

Use of herbs, spices and their bioactive compounds in active food packaging

Natural additives obtained from herbs and spices are being increasingly used in the food packaging industry.