Enhancement of agricultural produce quality and storability using citral-based edible coatings; the valuable effect of nano-emulsification in a solid-state delivery on fresh-cut melons model. (30th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Arnon-Rips, Hadar; Porat, Ron; Poverenov, Elena
• Is Part Of: Food chemistry. Volume 277(2019)
• Page Start: 205
• Page End: 212
• Publication Date: 2019-03-30
• Subjects: Nano emulsion -- Solid-state delivery -- Active edible coatings -- Citral; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food -- Composition -- Periodicals; 664
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.10.117
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0308-8146

Abstract

Highlights: Coarse- and nano-emulsification was used for a solid-state delivery of citral. The emulsions were embedded in polysaccharides-based edible films and coatings. Films containing nanoemulsions showed better features than coarse ones. Nanoemulsified coatings improved melons quality and prevented microbial damage. Abstract: Emulsification approach is widely employed to deliver beneficial agents to liquid food products, whereas utilizing emulsions with solid food is scarce. In this research, coarse and nano emulsions of citral were prepared and embedded in chitosan or carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) polysaccharides to form active edible coatings for solid-state delivery. Polysaccharides stabilized the emulsions by electrostatic interactions, while chitosan also prevented coalescence. The nano emulsion based films showed a more organized and dense morphology (E-SEM), higher water vapor barrier, better mechanical features (strength, elasticity and Young modulus) than the coarse ones. When applied on a solid food model, fresh-cut melons, the nanoemulsified edible coatings demonstrated a superior antimicrobial protection (up to a 5-log reduction) and significantly extended product's storability (up to 13 days). The presented approach could be further employed for the delivery of other beneficial agents (nutrients, aroma, antimicrobial, antioxidants) to solid food products, contributing a general progress in this field.