Alginate-Edible Coatings for Application on Wild Andean Blueberries (Vaccinium meridionale Swartz): Effect of the Addition of Nanofibrils Isolated from Cocoa By-Products.

Carolina Medina-Jaramillo,Carmen Quintero-Pimiento,Robin Zuluaga-Gallego,Alex López-Córdoba,Catalina Gómez-Hoyos

doi:10.3390/polym12040824

Carolina Medina-Jaramillo, Carmen Quintero-Pimiento + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12040824

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Abstract

Edible coatings and films are appealing strategies for the postharvest management of blueberries. In the current work, alginate and alginate/cellulose nanofibril (CNF) edible coatings crosslinked with calcium chloride were developed for application on Andean blueberry (a promissory wild blueberry). Cocoa by-products were valorized through the isolation of their CNFs, and these were incorporated in the edible coatings. Edible coating formulations were based on blends of alginate (2% w/v), CNFs (0%, 0.1%, or 0.3%), glycerol, and water. In addition, stand-alone films were prepared, and their light and water vapor barrier properties were studied before applying the coating on the fruit surface. The results show that the addition of CNFs caused a significant decrease in the transparency and the water vapor permeability of the alginate films. After applying on the Andean blueberry fruits, the alginate and alginate/CNF coatings enhanced the appearance and the firmness of the fruits. Moreover, they significantly reduced the respiration rate and the water loss of the Andean blueberries throughout the 21 days of refrigerated storage. Alginate and alginate/CNFs coatings may be considered a useful alternative for the delay of the postharvest deterioration of Andean blueberries.

Highlights

Blueberries are widely consumed small red fruits with high economic value and several health benefits [1]
The findings suggested that alginate and alginate/cellulose nanofibril (CNF) edible coatings were suitable for the delay of the postharvest deterioration of Andean blueberries during the refrigerated storage
Conclusions firmness than the other systems. This fact could be due to the good dispersion of Cocoa shell nanofibrils withinbyproducts the alginate matrix whenshell it was used at lower

Summary

Introduction

Blueberries are widely consumed small red fruits with high economic value and several health benefits [1]. There are several other wild shrubs of the genus Vaccinium with similar or higher biological activity, but with few commercial exploitations, such as the Vaccinium meridionale Swartz (Andean blueberry). The latter grows in the Andean region of South America at 2300–3300 m above sea level (m.a.s.l.) [2]. Andean blueberry fruits are rich in bioactive compounds such as anthocyanins (e.g., cyanidin-3-galactoside and cyanidin-3-glucoside), flavonoids (e.g., quercetin glycosides), and phenolic acids (e.g., chlorogenic acid) [3].

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