Pithecellobium dulce (PD) and Cassia senna alata (CA) Incorporated Food Packaging Films with Antioxidant Properties
Pithecellobium dulce (PD) and Cassia senna alata (CA) Incorporated Food Packaging Films with Antioxidant Properties
Beenish Khanzada1*, Shagufta Jabeen2, Asif Ali1, Amna Fatimah1, Ishfa Zahid1, Esha Israr1, Arifa Iqbal1 and Ashas Waheed1
ABSTRACT
Past practices of using medicinal plants as compounds to develop phyto-medicines has directed their more advanced use as active packaging as another way to preserve medicinal plants. The traditional plant extracts known for their antimicrobial or antioxidant properties can be incorporated in biopolymer based film forming solution to make active packaging films. This study contributes to comparative analysis of synthesis of biodegradable films from two biopolymers (i.e., starch and chitosan) with the additive effect of two medicinal plant extracts i.e., Pithecellobium dulce (PD) and Cassia senna alata (CA) using solvent casting technique. Fine homogenous and smooth surface films were the starch ones followed by chitosan. Prepared films were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to study the interactions between extract polyphenols with starch and chitosan. Water solubility analysis revealed the starch PD films with highest swelling degree, chitosan CA films with least water solubility and chitosan PD with least moisture content. In soil biodegradability analysis, starch PD films depicted highest weight loss (45%) in soil followed by chitosan CA films, proving the biodegradable character. DPPH assay displayed the highest free radical scavenging (32%) capacity of starch PD films followed by chitosan CA. For analysis of food quality effects, bread pieces were wrapped with these films and it was concluded that starch PD films displayed least weight loss (15%) of bread and maintained quality over one-week storage that was comparable to commercial plastic films.
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