Title
Evaluation of plant extracts as an efficient source of additives for active food packaging
Author
Dalila M. Vieira, Carla Pereira, Ricardo C. Calhelha, Lillian Barros, Jovana Petrovic, Marina Sokovic, Maria Filomena Barreiro, Isabel C.F.R. Ferreira, Maria Cidalia R. Castro, Pedro V. Rodrigues, Ana Vera Machado
Year
2022
Journal
Food frontiers
Abstract
Natural extracts have been used in several traditional medicine applications and culinary purposes. Their biological properties (antioxidant and antimicrobial) are due to the presence of several active aromatic compounds. Herein, different natural extracts were evaluated, namely structural and thermal characterization and biological activity, in its natural form and incorporated into a polymeric matrix, to assess their effective potential as additives for active food packaging. While rosemary presented the highest thermal stability with a degradation starting at 327°C, lemon balm extract was the less stable (180°C). Regarding the thiobarbituric acid assay, all extracts presented antioxidant activity, in oxidative hemolysis inhibition; anise, cinnamon, and clove extract did not present any action. Overall, the results demonstrated that leaves (rosemary and green tea) and the rhizome (curcumin) are the plant parts with the best performance. Therefore, extracts from aromatic plants are promising natural additives that can be incorporated into polymeric matrices to produce active food packaging film, increasing products shelf-life.
Full Article
Instrument
FT/IR-4100
Keywords
biological activity, medicine, thermal stability