Applicability of edible Candelilla wax composite blended with Bryophyllumpinnatum extract to prolong shelf life of fruits/vegetables.

Fatima, Amber; Tahir, Fatima; Mohyuddin, Ayesha; Munir, Tabassum; Nadeem, Sohail; Javed, Mohsin; Othman, Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan; Goh, Hui Hwang; Al-Hazmi, Hussein; Aziz, Faissal; Anouzla, Abdelkader; Kurniawan, Tonni Agustiono

Candelilla wax (CW) is a natural lipid source that can be used to make biodegradable and edible coatings and films for fruits. However, CW alone does not provide sufficient antimicrobial and antioxidant properties to prevent microbial spoilage and oxidative deterioration of fresh products. This study aims at evaluating the applicability of CW blended with Bryophyllum pinnatum extract (BPE), a plant with medicinal and phytochemical properties, to enhance the shelf life of fruits. CW and BPE were mixed at different ratios and applied as coatings on banana, cucumber, lemon, and apple. The coated fruits were stored at room temperature for several days and evaluated for weight loss (WL), pH, and physical appearance. The results showed that the edible CW coating mixed with B. pinnatum extract could extend the shelf-life of selected fruits by lowering their weight loss (WL), as compared to those without coating (p ≤ 0.05; paired t-test). It was observed that % WL of banana was significantly higher in the control group than in the coated banana (p ≤ 0.05; paired t-test) and that the highest WL (4.5%) was reached on the 4th day. The lowest WL (2.7%) was observed in the banana with edible coating with methanolic extract (ECME) formulation. The coating formed a complex layer that blocked the movement of H2O molecules through the selected fruits, preventing water loss. The smallest pH change was observed in the banana coated with the extract, indicating that the coating was suitable for extending the shell life of banana. Overall, CW enriched with BPE maintained the quality of their products for marketability.

EDIBLE coatings; COMPOSITE coating; FOOD preservation; MEDICINAL plants; PLANT extracts

Journal of Food Measurement & Characterization, 2024, Vol 18, Issue 8, p7077

2193-4126

Academic Journal

10.1007/s11694-024-02718-0