Carrageenan-based functional films hybridized with carbon dots and anthocyanins from rose petals for smart food packaging applications.

Multifunctional smart biopolymeric films were fabricated using rose petal anthocyanin (RPA) and carrageenan (CAR) doped with rose petal-derived carbon dots (RP-CDs). Response surface-optimized RPA showed the highest total anthocyanins and radical scavenging ability. Produced RP-CD exhibited UV absorption and high fluorescence with antibacterial/antioxidant abilities. Enrichment with 2 % RP-CD and 5 % RPA in the CAR matrix results in improved physicochemical, i.e., water contact angle, water vapor permeability, and UV-blocking properties of the fabricated material. Results showed that nanocomposite films scavenged radicals better than the neat CAR films. Zeta potential, FTIR, SEM, and XPS suggested improved compatibility/stability and enhanced elemental configuration of RP-CDs/RPA additives in the CAR polymer matrix. Perishable food packaging (minced pork and shrimp) demonstrated that nanocomposite films work efficiently and non-destructively and are promising tools for monitoring real-time freshness through interpretable visual changes from red to yellow. The CAR/RP-CDs/RPA-based nanocomposite indicator films are expected to be applied as various smart packaging materials. These films possess the ability to promptly detect changes in quality, preserve the quality, and prolong the shelf life of packaged foods.

Application of bacteriophages in biopolymer-based functional food packaging films.

Recently, food spoilage caused by pathogens has been increasing. Therefore, applying control strategies is essential. Bacteriophages can potentially reduce this problem due to their host specificity, ability to inhibit bacterial growth, and extend the shelf life of food. When bacteriophages are applied directly to food, their antibacterial activity is lost. In this regard, bacteriophage-loaded biopolymers offer an excellent option to improve food safety by extending their shelf life. Applying bacteriophages in food preservation requires comprehensive and structured information on their isolation, culturing, storage, and encapsulation in biopolymers for active food packaging applications. This review focuses on using bacteriophages in food packaging and preservation. It discusses the methods for phage application on food, their use for polymer formulation and functionalization, and their effect in enhancing food matrix properties to obtain maximum antibacterial activity in food model systems.

Cellulose nanofiber-based multifunctional films integrated with carbon dots and anthocyanins from Brassica oleracea for active and intelligent food packaging applications.

A new generation of carbon dot-based active and intelligent packaging films with UV blocking, antibacterial, and real-time sensing potentials was fabricated using Brassica oleracea (BO) extract. The cellulose nanofiber (CNF) was used to prepare the multifunctional intelligent nanocomposite film integrated with BO anthocyanins (BOA) and BO-biowaste-derived carbon dots (BO-CDs). The incorporation of 1.5 % BO-CD and 6 % BOA in the CNF matrix improved the physicochemical and UV blocking (>189 % increase) properties of the fabricated films. The synthesized BO-CD exhibits high fluorescence, UV absorption, antibacterial and antioxidant functions. It showed strong radical scavenging activity against ABTS (~90 %) and DPPH (~80 %) compared to the neat CNF film. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) have shown enhanced compatibility and elemental composition of the BO-CDs/BOA additives in the CNF-polymer matrix. Packaging tests showed that the prepared film worked efficiently and non-destructively and was able to monitor the freshness of minced pork, fish, and shrimp in real-time through a distinct visual change from red to colorless/yellow during storage at 25 °C for 48 h. Active and intelligent films developed based on CNF/BO-CDs/BOA are expected to be applied as multifunctional packaging materials that can indicate quality changes and extend the shelf life of packaged perishable foods.

Red bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.): Optimization of drying conditions and preparation of functional bread.

The aim of this study was to optimize the drying conditions (pretreatments and drying temperatures) of red bell pepper to obtain red bell pepper powder (RBP) with maximum bioactive retention and assess its potential use as a functional ingredient in bread. The RBP pretreated (blanching + dipping in ascorbic and citric acid solution) and dried at 60 °C retained the highest bioactive compounds. Wheat flour blends were prepared with RBP at 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% level of incorporation and among hydration properties, water absorption increased with increasing levels. The prepared breads were assayed for physical, nutritional, bioactive, and sensory characteristics. Bread supplementation with RBP improves its color, mineral, fiber, and bioactive properties. However, the texture of bread becomes hard with the increased level of RBP due to a decrease in specific volume. The significant increment was recorded for bioactive compounds, such as total phenols, antioxidant activity, flavonoids, and carotenoids as the level of powder increased. Bread enriched with 6% RBP showed highest sensory scores (8.45) and index of acceptability (87.83%) as compared to other breads. Thus, RBP acts as a valuable supplement for developing bread with improved nutritional and bioactive constituents. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study describes the effect of different pretreatments and drying temperatures for processing of RBP as a functional ingredient in bread, being a staple food around the world. RBP powder is a novel ingredient that improved the nutritional, bioactive, and appearance of bread. Hence, it will be helpful in the utilization of perishable crops like bell pepper and will demonstrate its commercial viability to improve the nutritive value of bakery products.

Comparative Efficacy of Synthetic and Natural Tenderizers on Quality Characteristics of Restructured Spent Hen Meat Slices (RSHS).

In the present study, comparative efficacy of natural as well as synthetic tenderizers on the quality characteristics of restructured spent hen meat slices (RSHS) was studied. Four different batches of RSHS viz. Control (without any tenderizer), T1 (1.25% calcium chloride replacing salt in formulation), T2 and T3 (1.5% each of pineapple rind and fig powder, replacing binder in the formulation) were developed in pre-standardized formulation. Vacuum tumbling was performed for 2.5 h and cooked product (RSHS) was assayed for quality attributes. Samples were packaged in aerobic conditions, stored for 21 days under refrigeration (4±1°C) and were evaluated for pH, oxidative and microbial quality parameters at regular interval of 7 days. Water holding capacity of T2 was recorded the highest and significantly higher (p<0.05) than all other samples. The textural attributes of T2 were comparable to T1 but significantly higher (p<0.05) than C and T3. The colour attributes (L*, a*, and b* value) of T2 and T3 were improved due to use of natural tenderizers. During sensory evaluation, tenderness scores for T2 samples were recorded the highest. Throughout storage period, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), free fatty acids (FFA) and peroxide value (PV) followed an increasing trend for control as well as treated products; however, T2 showed a significantly (p<0.05) lower value than control and other treated samples. It can be concluded that good quality RSHS with better storage stability could be prepared by utilizing 1.5% pineapple rind powder as natural tenderizer.

Optimisation of extraction protocol for Carica papaya L. to obtain phenolic rich phyto-extract with prospective application in chevon emulsion system.

The present study optimized the extraction protocol conditions to obtain the antioxidant-rich bioactive extracts from Carica papaya L. (Papaya) leaves. A Box and Behnken Design (BBD) consisting of three different extracting variables viz. extracting temperature (60-70 °C), time (10-20 min) and solvent concentration (55-65%) was used. Antioxidant efficacy was recorded by evaluating four responses viz. ABTS, DPPH, SASA and total phenolic contents. The optimized model predicted, solvent concentration of 60% with extraction time of 15 min and extracting temperature of 65 °C with bioactive-rich antioxidants having highest total phenolic activity. The efficacy of obtained bioactive-rich papaya leaves extracts (PLE) were subjected for in-vivo evaluation in chevon emulsion added with the level of T-1 (0.10%); T-2 (0.25%); T-3 (0.50%) and control (without extract) stored under refrigeration (4 ± 1 °C) for 9 days by evaluating various physicochemical, microbiological, sensory quality characteristics. The pH was significantly higher for control than all treatments and water activity (aw) showed decreasing trend throughout storage period. Oxidation efficiency values showed an increasing drift during storage period, irrespective of added level of PLE, showing lowest oxidation in samples treated with 0.5% PLE. Sensory panellists awarded comparatively higher scores to all PLE treatments than control. Microbiological quality of emulsion incorporated with different levels of papaya leaves extract successfully improved and was lower in 0.5% PLE treated samples. It was concluded that extraction of bioactive antioxidants from Carica papaya L. leaves improved by optimising extraction parameters using RSM. Carica papaya L. leaves extracts have proven prospects as natural anti-oxidants in chevon emulsion as a meat emulsion system.

Response surface optimization of extraction protocols to obtain phenolic rich antioxidant from sea buckthorn and their potential application into model meat system.

In the present study, processing parameters for the extraction of phenolic rich sea buckthorn seed (SBTE) extract were optimised using response surface method and subjected for in vitro efficacy viz. total phenolic, ABTS, DPPH and SASA activity. The optimised model depicted MeOH as a solvent at 60% concentration level with a reaction time of 20 min and extracting temperature of 55 °C for the highest yield and total phenolic content. The efficacy of different concentration of obtained SBT was evaluated in raw ground pork as a model meat system on the basis of various physico-chemical, microbiological, sensory quality characteristics. Addition of 0.3% SBTE significantly reduced the lipid peroxidation (PV, TBARS and FFA) and improved instrumental colour (L*, a*, b*) attributes of raw ground pork during refrigerated storage of 9 days. Results concluded that SBTE at 0.3% level can successfully improve the oxidative stability, microbial, sensory quality attributes in the meat model system.

Effect of the combination of natural antioxidants and packaging methods on quality of pork patties during storage.

The effect of combination of phyto-extracts (sea buckthorn extract (SBTE), grape seed extract (GSE)) on different physico-chemical, oxidative stability, instrumental colour and texture, sensory and microbiological properties of pork patties were investigated under aerobic and MAP (50 % CO2: 50 % N2) packaging conditions. Treatments viz. T-1 (aerobic packaged control), T-2 (aerobic packaged containing 0.3 % SBTE+ 0.1 % GSE), T-3 (MAP packaged control) and T-4 (MAP packaged containing 0.3 % SBTE+ 0.1 % GSE) at 4 ± 1 °C for 35 days and samples were drawn at 7 days interval. The pH decreased initially up to 21 days and thereafter increased on further storage whereas water activity followed a decreasing trend throughout the storage period, irrespective of the treatment and packaging conditions. Results of oxidative stability parameters revealed that peroxide value, TBARS and FFA followed an increasing trend in both the packaging groups during storage however, the rate of increase was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in MAP packaged products than aerobic packaged products and phyto extracts incorporated products than their respective control. Instrumental colour and texture profiles were best maintained in MAP packaged treated products (T-4) which has higher redness (a*) value whereas lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) showed lower (P < 0.05) value. MAP packaging resulted in superior sensory properties of pork patties as compared to aerobic packaged products. Standard plate count, psychrophiles and Coliforms were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in treated products than control and microbial count was better maintained in MAP than aerobic condition. Results concluded that the combined use of antioxidants and MAP packaging would be a useful method to control the oxidative and microbial quality changes of pork patties and it can be successfully stored for 35 days.

Effect of Various Phyto-extracts on Physico-chemical, Colour, and Oxidative Stability of Pork Frankfurters.

Lipid oxidation, colour stability and physico-chemical quality of pork frankfurters with the incorporation of 0.30% sea buckthorn (SBT), 0.10% grape seed (GSE), 0.03% green tea (GTE), 0.12% fenugreek seed (FSE) and 0.10% Acacia catechu (ACE) were studied during 20 days of refrigerated aerobic storage. The SBT and ACE were identified as being the most effective antioxidants to retard lipid oxidation with the potency decreasing in the following order: SBT>ACE>GSE>GTE>FSE based on thiobarbituric acid reacting substances, peroxide value and free fatty acids. In all samples pH and aw decreased during storage period. The L* value of treated as well as control samples decreased over time while SBT and ACE exhibited an increased redness producing higher a* values than other treatments. However, GTE was more effective in increasing b* values than other treatments at the end of storage. The results suggest that functional plant-derived extracts can be valuable to the modification of frankfurter formulations for improved oxidative stability as well as quality characteristics.