Improving functional properties of chitosan films as active food packaging by incorporating with propolis
Graphical abstract
Introduction
Recently, research and developments in active food packaging have focused on bio-based functional packaging materials incorporating natural active compounds and ingredients (Leceta et al., 2013, van den Broek et al., 2015, Madureira et al., 2015). Chitosan is a functional biopolymer with intrinsic antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and consequently, it has high potential to be used as an alternative biodegradable active food package (Fernandez-Saiz et al., 2009, Guoa et al., 2015, van den Broek et al., 2015). Bio-based packaging materials with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties have become popular since oxidation and microbial contamination are major problems affecting food quality and safety. Many studies have been conducted on the utilization of plant polyphenols as alternatives to synthetic antimicrobial and antioxidant agents (Evrendilek, 2015, Lores et al., 2015, Madureira et al., 2015, Salvia-Trujillo et al., 2015, Siripatrawan, 2016).
Propolis, the natural resinous substance collected by honeybees from various plant sources, is considered a good source of natural antioxidants and antibacterials (Bankova, 2005). Propolis contains a variety of chemical compounds such as polyphenols (flavonoid aglycones, phenolic acids and their esters, phenolic aldehydes, alcohols and ketones), sesquiterpene quinines, coumarins, amino acids and inorganic compounds (Bankova, 2005, Falcão et al., 2010). Flavonoids (flavones, flavonols and flavonones), aromatic acids and phenolic compounds are the most important active constituents of propolis and appear to be the principal components responsible for the biological activities of propolis samples (Silici & Kutluca, 2005). Propolis has been reported to possess various biological activities, such as antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antifungal, and antitumoral properties (Falcão et al., 2010). The antimicrobial effects of propolis against Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas fluorescence) bacteria have been reported (Silici and Kutluca, 2005, Siripatrawan et al., 2013).
As a good source of polyphenols with multiple biological activities, propolis has high potential to be used as an active agent that can be incorporated into films. Limited research on incorporation of propolis to enhance properties of packaging films and coatings has been published. Pastor, Sánchez-González, Cháfer, Chiralt, and González-Martínez (2010) investigated physical and antifungal properties of hydroxymethylcellulose based films containing propolis. Bodini, Sobral, Favaro-Trindade, and Carvalho (2013) studied properties of gelatin films added with propolis, and Torlak and Sert (2013) examined antibacterial effectiveness of chitosan-propolis coated polypropylene film. Nevertheless, research providing functional characterizations, including mechanical properties, oxygen and moisture barrier, structural property, antioxidant activity and antimicrobial property, of chitosan films incorporated with propolis extract (PE) has not been fully documented. Hence, this research aimed to develop and characterize chitosan films with enhanced functional properties for potential use as active food packaging by incorporating chitosan with propolis extract.
Section snippets
Film preparation
Propolis was collected from Nan province in northern Thailand and extracted following the methods of Siripatrawan et al. (2013). Three grams of ground propolis were extracted using 100 ml of 30% ethanol aqueous solution. The solution was extracted at 50 °C in a water bath shaking incubator (New Brunswick Scientific, Edison, USA) at 200 oscillation/min for 24 h and then filtered through Whatman filter paper No. 1. The extract solution was concentrated using a rotary evaporator (Rotavapor R-200,
Water vapor permeability
Chitosan films without propolis had the highest (p ≤ 0.05) WVP among tested films. Addition of propolis reduced (p ≤ 0.05) WVP of the films, but this did not change (p > 0.05) with increasing amounts (Fig. 1).
Polyphenolic compounds may be able to fit into the chitosan matrix and establish interactions such as hydrogen or covalent bonding with reactive groups of chitosan (Siripatrawan and Harte, 2010, Wu et al., 2013). The hydrogen and covalent interactions between chitosan network and
Conclusions
An active film from chitosan incorporated with PE could be achieved with enhanced functional properties. Incorporation of PE into chitosan films improved mechanical and barrier properties, as well as antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. The modification of film properties could be attributed to the interactions between functional groups of chitosan and polyphenols and other constituents of propolis as verified by FTIR analysis. The developed film has potential to be used as antimicrobial
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the National Research Council of Thailand for awarding the research grant (No. 2556NRCT53492). The propolis used in this research was supported by the Science for Locale Project under Chulalongkorn University Centenary Academic Development.
References (39)
Chemical diversity of propolis and the problem of standardization
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
(2005)- et al.
Properties of gelatin-based films with added ethanol–propolis extract
LWT - Food Science and Technology
(2013) - et al.
Chitosan films and blends for packaging material
Carbohydrate Polymers
(2015) - et al.
Optimization of the biocide properties of chitosan for its application in the design of active films of interest in the food area
Food Hydrocolloids
(2009) - et al.
Effect of chitosan coating combined with postharvest calcium treatment on strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) quality during refrigerated storage
Food Chemistry
(2008) - et al.
Optimization of chitosan biofilm properties by addition of caraway essential oil and beeswax
Journal of Food Engineering
(2015) - et al.
Functional properties of chitosan-based films
Carbohydrate Polymers
(2013) - et al.
Use of ethyl lactate to extract bioactive compounds from Cytisus scoparius: Comparison of pressurized liquid extraction and medium scale ambient temperature systems
Talanta
(2015) - et al.
Current state on the development of nanoparticles for use against bacterial gastrointestinal pathogens. Focus on chitosan nanoparticles loaded with phenolic compounds
Carbohydrate Polymers
(2015) - et al.
Influence of α-tocopherol on physicochemical properties of chitosan-based films
Food Hydrocolloids
(2012)
Physical, mechanical, and antimicrobial properties of chitosan films with microemulsions of cinnamon bark oil and soybean oil
Food Hydrocolloids
Antimicrobial action of propolis and some of its components: The effects on growth, membrane potential and motility of bacteria
Microbiological Research
Development and evaluation of a novel biodegradable film made from chitosan and cinnamon essential oil with low affinity toward water
Food Chemistry
Physical and antifungal properties of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose based films containing propolis as affected by moisture content
Carbohydrate Polymers
Development of tea extracts and chitosan composite films for active packaging materials
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Structure-antioxidant activity relationship of flavonoids and phenolic acids
Free Radical Biology and Medicine
Physicochemical characterization and antimicrobial activity of foodgrade emulsions and nanoemulsions incorporating essential oils
Food Hydrocolloids
Development and characterization of biodegradable chitosan films containing two essential oils
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of propolis collected by three different races of honeybees in the same region
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Cited by (328)
Green active coating from chitosan incorporated with spontaneous cinnamon oil nanoemulsion: Effects on dried shrimp quality and shelf life
2024, International Journal of Biological MacromoleculesTannic acid crosslinked chitosan-guar gum composite films for packaging application
2024, International Journal of Biological MacromoleculesChitosan based coatings and films: A perspective on antimicrobial, antioxidant, and intelligent food packaging
2024, Progress in Organic Coatings