Persimmon preservation using edible coating of chitosan enriched with ginger oil and visualization of internal structure changes using X-ray computed tomography.

The incorporation of ginger oil (GO) influenced the physical, optical, and structural properties of the chitosan (CH) film including the decreases of moisture content (60.15 %), water solubility (35.37 %) and water vapor permeability (WVP) (32.79 %) and the increases of tensile strength (TS) (125 %), elongation at break (EAB) (2.74 %) and opacity (131.08 %). Antifungal capacity of the CH film was enhanced when GO was added to the film. The CH + GO film showed a less homogeneous surface that the presence of the oil droplets on the film surface. Moreover, the CH and CH + GO coatings reduced weight loss of persimmon by 14.87 %, and 21.13 %, respectively, compared to the control. Moisture content loss of the coated CH- and the coated CH + GO- persimmons was decreased by 1.94 % and 4.92 %, respectively, compared to that of the control persimmon. Furthermore, the CH and CH + GO coatings decreased in color changes, respiration rate, ethylene production, changes in pH and TSS, and remained firmness of persimmon during storage at 25 °C. In addition, X-ray CT images can be used to monitor internal changes and observe the tissue breakdown during storage period. The ΔGS value can be used as a predictor of persimmon internal qualities. Thus, the CH film containing GO can be applied as an active packaging material.

Characterization and bio-functional performance of chitosan/poly (vinyl alcohol)/trans-cinnamaldehyde ternary biopolymeric films.

Bioactive films of chitosan (CS)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/trans-cinnamaldehyde (CIN) were prepared by co-blending, and the impact of varying concentrations (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 %) of CIN on the physicochemical properties of the ternary films was investigated. The ATR/FT-IR analysis revealed that the bioactive film is modulated by Schiff base (C=N) and hydrogen-bond interactions of CS, PVA, and CIN. Inclusion of CIN into the film improved mechanical properties with tensile strength increased from 0.5 % (68.52 MPa) to 1.5 % (76.95 MPa). The presence of CIN within the CS/PVA film also remarkably affected oxygen permeability and improved light transmittance. Additionally, the water barrier and contact angle properties were improved with increasing CIN content. The morphology of the CIN-containing films appeared non-stratified and dense when observed by SEM and AFM. Moreover, spore germination and in vitro assays confirmed strong antifungal activity of the CIN-containing film against P. italicum (~90 %) and B. cinerea (~85 %). The ternary films also exhibited excellent antioxidant activity, as evidenced by DPPH radical scavenging activity (31.43 %) and ferric reducing power (OD700 nm = 0.172) at the highest CIN concentration tested. Thus, this bioactive CIN films are proposed as a versatile packaging material for the food industry.

Edible film of native jicama starch, agarwood Aetoxylon Bouya essential oil and calcium propionate: Processing, mechanical, thermal properties and structure.

The objective of this study was to determine the properties of natural jicama starch and edible film made from the starch. The film was prepared by adding agarwood aetoxylon bouya essential oil and calcium propionate to investigate its properties as an edible coating for fruit or vegetables. The microstructure of the edible film was observed using scanning electron microscopy. The three main materials mostly had significant effects (P < 0.05) on the properties of the sample films, and starch film incorporating essential oil­calcium propionate showed optimum properties as an edible coating material because it had the highest elongation of 10.81%, the lowest stiffness with a Young's modulus of about 2.53 MPa, the lowest of water vapor transmission rate and permeability of 0.117 g h-1 m-2 and 3.092 g mm h-1 m-2 kPa-1, respectively, and the lowest weight loss of 75.30%. It was also found that the microstructure of starch-essential oil­calcium propionate film had a homogeneous surface and the presence of essential oil droplets was not visible.

Antifungal features and properties of chitosan/sandalwood oil Pickering emulsion coating stabilized by appropriate cellulose nanofiber dosage for fresh fruit application.

A novel composite edible coating film was developed from 0.8% chitosan (CS) and 0.5% sandalwood oil (SEO). Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were used as a stabilizer agent of oil-in-water Pickering emulsion. We found four typical groups of CNF level-dependent emulsion stabilization, including (1) unstable emulsion in the absence of CNFs; (2) unstable emulsion (0.006-0.21% CNFs); (3) stable emulsion (0.24-0.31% CNFs); and (4) regular emulsion with the addition of surfactant. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was performed to reveal the characteristics of droplet diameter and morphology. Antifungal tests against Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium digitatum, between emulsion coating stabilized with CNFs (CS-SEOpick) and CS or CS-SEO was tested. The effective concentration of CNFs (0.24%) may improve the performance of CS coating and maintain CS-SEO antifungal activity synergistically confirmed with a series of assays (in vitro, in vivo, and membrane integrity changes). The incorporation of CNFs contributed to improve the functional properties of CS and SEO-loaded CS including light transmission at UV and visible light wavelengths and tensile strength. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were employed to characterize the biocompatibility of each coating film formulation. Emulsion-CNF stabilized coating may have potential applications for active coating for fresh fruit commodities.

Effect of Taro Starch, Beet Juice, Probiotic, and/or Psicose on Gut Microbiota in a Type 2 Diabetic Rat Model: A Pilot Study.

Background and Objectives. The gut microbiota has been shown to be involved in the development and severity of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The aim of the present study was to test the effect of potential functional food ingredients, alone or in combination, on the gut microbiota composition in diabetic rats in a pilot study of 1 week of feeding. Methods. In a pilot study to modulate the composition of the gut microbiota, (i) native taro starch, (ii) modified taro starch, (iii) beet juice, (iv) psicose, (v) the probiotic L. plantarum IS-10506, (vi) native starch combined with beet juice, (vii) native starch to which beet juice was adsorbed, (viii) modified starch combined with beet juice, and (ix) modified starch to which beet juice was adsorbed were fed to rats in which T2D was induced with streptozotocin (STZ). After one week, the composition of the gut microbiota was evaluated by sequencing the PCR-amplified V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Results and Conclusions. The next-generation sequencing showed that 13 microbial taxa of the gut microbiota were significantly different between groups, depending on the treatment. The results of this pilot study will be used to design a 4-week intervention study in STZ-induced T2D rats to determine the best functional food for counteracting T2D, including their effects on satiety hormones. This should ultimately lead to the development of functional foods for prediabetic and diabetic individuals.

Effect of functional food ingredients on gut microbiota in a rodent diabetes model.

BACKGROUND: The gut microbiota has been shown to be involved in the development and severity of type 2 diabetes. The aim of the present study was to test the effect of 4-week functional food ingredient feeding, alone or in combination, on the gut microbiota composition in diabetic rats. METHODS: Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were treated for 4 weeks with (1) native taro starch, (2) modified taro-starch, (3) beet juice, (4) psicose, (5) the probiotic L. plantarum IS-10506, (6) native starch combined with beet juice, (7) native starch to which beet juice was adsorbed, (8) modified starch combined with beet juice or (9) modified starch to which beet juice was adsorbed, to modulate the composition of the gut microbiota. This composition was evaluated by sequencing the PCR amplified V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. RESULTS: The next-generation sequencing showed beneficial effects particularly of taro-starch feeding. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) related to health (e.g. correlating with low BMI, OTUs producing butyrate) were increased in relative abundance, while OTUs generally correlated with disease (e.g. Proteobacteria) were decreased by feeding taro-starch. CONCLUSION: The results of study show that a 4-week intervention with functional food ingredients, particularly taro-derived starch, leads to a more healthy gut microbiota in rats that were induced to be diabetic by induction with STZ.