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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
BACKGROUND: Food contamination and spoilage is a problem causing growing concern. To avoid it, the use of food packaging
with appropriate characteristics is essential; ideally, the packaging should protect food from external contamination and
exhibit antibacterial properties. With this aim, methylcellulose (MC) films containing natural extracts from the stems of Ginja
cherry, an agricultural by-product, were developed and characterized.
RESULTS: The antibacterial activity of filmswas screened by the disc diffusion method and quantified using the viable cell count
assay. The films inhibited the growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains (Listeria innocua, methicillin-sensitive
Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, Salmonella Enteritidis, Escherichia coli). For the films with lower extract
content, effectiveness against the microorganisms depended on the inoculum concentration. Scanning electron microscope
images of the films showed that those containing the extracts had a smooth and continuous structure. UV–visible spectroscopy
showed that thesematerials do not transmit light in the UV.
CONCLUSION: This study shows that MC films containing agricultural by-products, in this case Ginja cherry stem extract, could
be used to prevent food contamination by relevant bacterial strains and degradation by UV light. Using such materials in food
packaging, the shelf life of food products could be extended while utilizing an otherwise wasted by-product.
Description
Keywords
Edible food packaging Cherry stem extract Antimicrobial activity Methylcellulose Agricultural by-products
Citation
CAMPOS, Débora …[et al.] - Characterization and antimicrobial properties of food packaging methylcellulose films containing stem extract of Ginja cherry. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. ISSN 1097-0010. Vol. 94, n.º 10 (2014), p. 2097-2103
Publisher
Wiley