Development and Characterization of Potato Starch-Pectin-Based Active Films Enriched With Juniper Berry Essential Oil for Food Packaging Applications

Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable food packaging has driven the development of films based on biopolymers. However, enhancing their functional properties remains a challenge. In the current study, potato starch-pectin (PSP) composite films were fabricated and enriched with juniper berry essential oil (JBEO) to improve their physicochemical properties. The effects of incorporating different concentrations of JBEO (0.1%-1% v/v) on various properties of PSP-based films were evaluated, including surface color, transparency, barrier properties, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal analysis (TGA and DTA), antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial effectiveness. Increasing the level of JBEO led to a significant decrease in the moisture content, film transparency, and mechanical attributes, while an increase in thickness, water permeability, and film elongation was observed. SEM analysis also revealed morphological properties such as some spherical, bubble-like configuration and cracks on the surface due to an increase in JBEO concentration. TGA and DTA revealed lower weight loss in the initial cycles due to the addition of JBEO, and the thermal stability of the films improved. The antioxidant assays revealed a concentration-dependent increase in the radical scavenging capacity of the films from 11.31% to 17.28% for DPPH and from 3.06% to 25.53% for ABTS. Moreover, significant antibacterial and antifungal activity of the bioactive films was observed against P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and C. albicans. These findings suggest that JBEO enhances the functional properties of PSP films, making them suitable for active food packaging applications.

Keywords: active packaging; biopolymeric films; food packaging; natural antioxidant.

FIGURE 1

FTIR analysis of potato starch and pectin (PSP) composite edible films loaded with juniper berry essential oil (JBEO). PSP1 (control film); PSP2 (JBEO 0.1% v/v); PSP3 (JBEO 0.5% v/v); PSP4 (JBEO 1% v/v).

FIGURE 2

XRD diffractogram of potato starch and pectin (PSP) composite edible films loaded with juniper berry essential oil (JBEO). PSP1 (control film); PSP2 (JBEO 0.1% v/v); PSP3 (JBEO 0.5% v/v); PSP4 (JBEO 1% v/v).

FIGURE 3

SEM analysis of potato starch and pectin (PSP) composite edible films loaded with juniper berry essential oil (JBEO). PSP1 (control film); PSP2 (JBEO 0.1% v/v); PSP3 (JBEO 0.5% v/v); PSP4 (JBEO 1% v/v).

FIGURE 4

TGA thermogram of potato starch and pectin (PSP) composite edible films loaded with juniper berry essential oil (JBEO). PSP1 (control film); PSP2 (JBEO 0.1% v/v); PSP3 (JBEO 0.5% v/v); PSP4 (JBEO 1% v/v).

FIGURE 5

DTA thermogram of potato starch and pectin (PSP) composite edible films loaded with juniper berry essential oil (JBEO). PSP1 (control film); PSP2 (JBEO 0.1% v/v); PSP3 (JBEO 0.5% v/v); PSP4 (JBEO 1% v/v).

FIGURE 6

Illustration of ABTS cation scavenging activity of PSP edible films loaded with JBEO. PSP1: Control film; PSP2: JBEO (0.1% v/v); PSP3: JBEO (0.5% v/v); PSP4: JBEO (1% v/v). Error bars display standard deviation.

FIGURE 7

Illustration of DPPH radical scavenging activity of PSP edible films loaded with JBEO. PSP1: Control film; PSP2: JBEO (0.1% v/v); PSP3: JBEO (0.5% v/v); PSP4: JBEO (1% v/v). Error bars display standard deviation.

FIGURE 8

Pictograph of Pseudomonas aeruginosa zone of inhibition (included with disc diameter of 10 mm) PSP1: Control film, PSP2: JBEO (0.1% v/v) film, PSP3: JBEO (0.5% v/v) film, and PSP4: JBEO (1% v/v) film.

FIGURE 9

Pictograph of Staphylococcus aureus zone of inhibition (included with disc diameter of 10 mm) PSP1: Control film, PSP2: JBEO (0.1% v/v) film, PSP3: JBEO (0.5% v/v) film, and PSP4: JBEO (1% v/v) film.

FIGURE 10

Pictograph of Candida albicans zone of inhibition (included with disc diameter of 10 mm). PSP1: Control film, PSP2: JBEO (0.1% v/v) film, PSP3: JBEO (0.5% v/v) film, and PSP4: JBEO (1% v/v) film.