Articolo in rivista, 2020, ENG, 10.1080/14786419.2020.1824224

Gelatin-based coating enriched with blueberry juice preserves the nutraceutical quality and reduces the microbial contamination of tomato fruit

Frassinetti S.; Castagna A.; Santin M.; Pozzo L.; Baratto I.; Longo V.; Ranieri A.

National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Biology and Agricultural Biotechnology (IBBA), Research Area of Pisa, Pisa, National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Biology and Agricultural Biotechnology (IBBA), Research Area of Pisa, Pisa, Italy, , , Italy; National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Biology and Agricultural Biotechnology (IBBA), Research Area of Pisa, Pisa, National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Biology and Agricultural Biotechnology (IBBA), Research Area of Pisa, Pisa, Italy, , , Italy; Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Pisa, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy, , Italy; Interdepartmental Research Center Nutrafood "Nutraceuticals and Food for Health", University of Pisa, Pisa, Interdepartmental Research Center Nutrafood "Nutraceuticals and Food for Health", University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy, , Italy

To preserve quality and extend the shelf life of tomato, a bioactive edible coating was prepared using gelatin wastes from pharmaceutical industry and lyophilised blueberry juice (BJ). The effectiveness of gelatin-coating (G) and G enriched with blueberry juice (GB) was tested, monitoring carotenoids, polyphenols and flavonoids content, the antioxidant activity and the antimicrobial efficiency of coating against the native microflora. After 7 d of storage, coated fruit showed higher phenolic and flavonoids content and increased antioxidant activity, while carotenoids were unaffected by the treatments. The growth of mesophilic bacteria of GB, and the growth of coliform bacteria of G and GB were significantly reduced during the entire period. The results indicate that GB preserved the nutritional quality of tomatoes and that BJ was able to increase the antimicrobial activity of the coating. This paves the way for a possible use of this biodegradable waste polymer as an eco-friendly coating material.

Natural product research (Print)

Keywords

Edible coatings, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, fruit storage, microbial contamination

CNR authors

Frassinetti Stefania, Longo Vincenzo, Pozzo Luisa

CNR institutes