Eco-friendly Preservatives Research Articles

Innovative Eco-friendly Approaches to Enhance the Vase Life of Cut Flowers: A Comprehensive Review

This study investigates the key determinants of cut flower vase life, focusing on the influence of pre- and post-harvest conditions and environmental factors. Addressing the commercial challenges associated with limited vase life, the research underscores the critical need for sustainable and eco-friendly floral preservatives to enhance flower freshness. It highlights the rising interest in plant-based extracts and biodegradable alternatives as effective substitutes for conventional chemical preservatives. These natural preservatives not only improve floral longevity but also reduce environmental impact when paired with optimized post-harvest management practices. The study emphasizes the growing body of research dedicated to extending the shelf life of cut flowers through environmentally conscious solutions. By advancing both flower durability and ecological sustainability, eco-friendly preservatives hold significant potential to revolutionize the floriculture industry.

Combination of Cinnamaldehyde/β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex and L-phenylalanine effectively reduces the postharvest green mold in citrus fruit

The essential oil and β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex was able to inhibit the growth of Penicillium digitatum, a damaging pathogen that causes green mold in citrus fruit. In this study, cinnamaldehyde-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex (β-CDCA) for controlling citrus green mold was synthesized by the co-precipitation method. Characterization of β-CDCA revealed that the aromatic ring skeleton of cinnamaldehyde (CA) was successfully embedded into the cavity of β-CD to form the inclusion complex. β-CDCA inhibited P. digitatum at a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of 4.0 g/L. FT-IR spectroscopy analysis, calcofluor white staining, extracellular alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity and propidium iodide (PI) staining of hyphae morphology showed that β-CDCA may damage the cell ultrastructure and membrane permeability of P. digitatum. The study further demonstrated that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) markedly accumulated in 1/2 MIC β-CDCA treated hyphae. This implied that β-CDCA inhibited growth of P. digitatum by the triggering oxidative stress, which may have caused cell death by altering cell membrane permeability. In addition, in vivo results showed that β-CDCA alone or combined with L-phenylalanine (L-PHe) displayed a comparable level to that of prochloraz. Therefore, β-CDCA combined with L-PHe can thus be used as an eco-friendly preservative for the control green mold in postharvest citrus fruit.

Enhanced ε-Poly-L-Lysine Production in Streptomyces albulus through Multi-Omics-Guided Metabolic Engineering.

Safe and eco-friendly preservatives are crucial to preventing food spoilage and illnesses, as foodborne diseases caused by pathogens result in approximately 600 million cases of illness and 420,000 deaths annually. ε-Poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) is a novel food preservative widely used in many countries. However, its commercial application has been hindered by high costs and low production. In this study, ε-PL's biosynthetic capacity was enhanced in Streptomyces albulus WG608 through metabolic engineering guided by multi-omics techniques. Based on transcriptome and metabolome data, differentially expressed genes (fold change >2 or <0.5; p < 0.05) and differentially expressed metabolites (fold change >1.2 or <0.8) were separately subjected to gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. The integrative analysis of transcriptome, metabolome, and overexpression revealed the essential roles of isocitrate lyase, succinate dehydrogenase, flavoprotein subunit, diaminopimelate dehydrogenase, polyphosphate kinase, and polyP:AMP phosphotransferase in ε-PL biosynthesis. Subsequently, a strain with enhanced ATP supply, L-lysine supply, and ε-PL synthetase expression was constructed to improve its production. Finally, the resulting strain, S. albulus WME10, achieved an ε-PL production rate of 77.16 g/L in a 5 L bioreactor, which is the highest reported ε-PL production to date. These results suggest that the integrative analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome can facilitate the identification of key pathways and genetic elements affecting ε-PL synthesis, guiding further metabolic engineering and thus significantly enhancing ε-PL production. The method presented in this study could be applicable to other valuable natural antibacterial agents.

Optimizing the boron-loaded pH/temperature dual responsive polymer for controlled release of boron from wood

ABSTRACT Disodium octoborate tetrahydrate (DOT) is a well-received and eco-friendly preservative. However, it is prone to leaching from wood in humid conditions or rainy seasons, causing problems such as decreased efficiency in resisting fungi and poor surface performance in surface finishing. To obtain enhanced leaching resistance and simultaneously achieve controlled release of DOT, a pH and temperature dual responsive poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/2-(Dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) (PDH) was prepared and optimized for in situ construction of DOT-loaded PDH (PDHD) in wood. Results showed that PDH displayed obvious pH and temperature-responsive swelling, and when loaded with DOT, the PDHD consequently released DOT in a pH and temperature-responsive way. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Solid-13C NMR analysis and Dynamic mechanical analysis confirmed the copolymerization of 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and 2-(Dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), as well as the presence of crosslinked structure formed from hydrogen bond between the hydroxyl group of HEMA and the N,N-dimethylamino groups of DMAEMA. After that, the PDHD was in situ constructed in wood for controlled release of boron. During the water leaching test, the modified wood exhibited a boron fixation rate of 49.05% compared with 0.72% of the neat DOT-treated wood. Besides, it presented controlled release activity in response to pH and temperature. This work provides new approaches to the fixation of boron preservatives and notably realizes responsive releasing of boron compounds for long-term wood preservation.

Antifungal Properties of Pimenta racemosa (Mill.) and Mentha x piperita (L.) Essential Oils against Fusarium oxysporum Causing Tomato Fruit Rot

Fungal pathogens are responsible for the rot of tomatoes and cause health hazards to consumers as well as economic loss. The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of essential oils from Pimenta racemosa (Mill.) and Mentha x piperita (L.) leaves as plant-based fungicide against Fusarium oxysporum strains associated with tomato rot. The chemical composition of the essential oils was determined by GC-MS analysis. Antifungal effects of essential oils against strain of F. oxysporum obtained from rotted tomato, were evaluated through the determination of Minimal Fungicide Concentration (MFC) and the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Results indicated that β-myrcene (19.48%), chavicol (15.39 %), and eugenol (46.65%) were the major components of the essential oil of Pimenta racemosa (Mill.). L-menthone (17.19 %), menthol (24.79%), and menthofuran (26.78 %) were the major components of the essential oil of Mentha x piperita (L.). Essential oil of Pimenta racemosa (Mill.) exhibited the highest antifungal activity against the growth of Fusarium oxysporum strain tested with a MIC and MFC of 0.75 and 1.25 μl.ml-1 respectively. These results provide an experimental basis for further research on the use of these plant extracts in the development of eco-friendly preservatives against fungi causing rots of tomato in post-harvest.

Laurus nobilis essential oil nanoemulsion-infused chitosan: A safe and effective antifungal agent for masticatory preservation

The present study reports the first time investigation on encapsulation of Laurus nobilis essential oil into chitosan nanoemulsion (CS-Ne-LNEO) and assessment of its efficacy to inhibit fungal infestation and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination in stored masticatories food system. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed m-Eugenol (46.23%) and D-Limonene (8.89%) as the most abundant components of LNEO. The CS-Ne-LNEO was physico-chemically characterized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and x-ray diffractometry (XRD) analyses. The CS-Ne-LNEO exhibited broad range of antifungal activity against food contaminating fungi including inhibition of toxigenic Aspergillus flavus (AF-LHP-PE-4) and AFB1 production at lower concentrations as compared to unencapsulated LNEO. The CS-Ne-LNEO caused impairment in ergosterol biosynthesis and enhancement in leakage of Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ ions and 260, 280 nm absorbing materials along with inhibition of methylglyoxal production suggesting the antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic mechanism of action. The DPPH antioxidant activity of CS-Ne-LNEO was noted with IC50 value of 0.004 µL/mL. In addition, the CS-Ne-LNEO caused complete protection of stored Phyllanthus emblica (model masticatories) fruit samples against fungal and AFB1 contamination without altering their sensory characteristics and exhibited high LD50 value (13,504 µL/Kg body weight) mammalian system. Overall, these results indicated that LNEO loaded chitosan nanoemulsion could be promoted as an eco-friendly preservative for complete protection of stored plant masticatories against fungal and AFB1 contamination.

Control of bamboo borer Chlorophorus annularis by using eco-friendly preservatives

Control of bamboo borer Chlorophorus annularis by using eco-friendly preservatives

Melatonin Preserves the Postharvest Quality of Cut Roses through Enhancing the Antioxidant System.

The vase life of cut rose is relatively short, therefore; preserving its postharvest quality via eco-friendly approaches is of particular economic importance. From the previous literature, despite melatonin (MT) plays diverse important roles in the postharvest quality maintenance, its impact on preserving the postharvest quality of cut flowers is really scarce. This research therefore was undertaken to find out the possibility of exogenous MT as an eco-friendly preservative to extend the vase life of cut roses. The flowering stems of Rosa hybrida cv. ‘First Red’ were pulsed in MT solutions at 0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mM for 30 min and then transferred to distilled water for evaluation. The vase life was significantly prolonged and relative water content was considerably maintained due to MT application compared to the control, more so with 0.2 mM concentration which nearly doubled the vase life (1.9-fold) higher than the control. SEM investigation showed that MT treatment reduced the stomatal aperture in lower epidermis which was widely opened in control flowers. MT treatment significantly increased the phenol content, glutathione (GSH) content and CAT, APX and GR enzyme activities compared to untreated flowers. Additionally, the radical scavenging capacity in MT-treated flowers was considerably higher than that of control and therefore MT treatment reduced H2O2 production and lipid peroxidation, which altogether reflected in membrane stability maintenance.

Antimicrobial activity of Chrysophyllum albidum seed extract and its effect on the physicochemical properties of cherry tomato fruits during postharvest storage

The high water content of Lycopersicon esculentum usually favors microbial growth, thus resulting in shelf-life reduction and economic loss. In an effort to develop an ecofriendly preservative for cherry tomatoes, a comprehensive study establishing the antimicrobial activity of the seeds of Chrysophyllum albidum and Persea americana was carried out. Folin Ciocalteu, AlCl3 colorimetric, and agar well diffusion assays were, respectively, used to determine the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content, and the antimicrobial potential of the extracts. Although the ethanolic extract of C. albidum displayed the highest TPC (90.71 ± 2.17 mg/g GAE), the antimicrobial studies indicated that aqueous extract of C. albidum seed (CAA), which showed the presence of saponins (total saponin content: 7.82%) had the highest zone of inhibition against Samonella typhi (24.5 ± 0.05 mm) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22.5 ± 0.05 mm). Treatments with 50 and 100 mg/ml of CAA retained firmness in tomatoes and significantly (p < .05) preserved the postharvest qualities (total soluble solids, total acidity, and ascorbic acid content) of cherry tomatoes. Novelty impact statement Seeds of Chrysophymum albidum and Persea americana, which are usually discarded, possess antioxidant and antimicrobial phytochemicals with the aqueous extract of C. albidum (CAA) exhibiting more impressive antimicrobial properties. CAA treatment significantly preserved the postharvest qualities of cherry tomatoes. Hence, CAA is a cheap and easily affordable natural product treatment can be used to prolong the shelf-life of cherry tomatoes, thus minimizing economic loss due postharvest wastage of tomatoes.

A Review of Eco-Friendly Preservative and Bio-Tannin Materials Using Powdered Barks of Local Plants for the Processing of Goatskin

Skin is a raw material which is considered as the heart of leather making process. Skin falls vulnerable upon the flayed of the animals and is seriously invaded by bacteria if it is not well protected. Curing and preservation of raw stock resist putrefaction and reserve leather quality. Worldwide, most commonly used skin preservation is by using table salt which is accused of polluting the environment by increasing soil salinity, affecting water body, releasing more than 40% dissolved solids and 55% chlorides etc. Further, on the side of leather tanning, 80-90% of all leathers is manufactured by tanning with basic chromium (III) salt, because of its excellent features and is also solemnly accused that; its safety record is cautionary, uncontrolled emission of chromium (VI) and it is a limited natural resources. Pollution control authorities of many countries are imposed severe restrictions on both salt preservation and chrome tanning forcing the tanners and researchers to look for possible alternative ways that are naturally abundant, easily obtainable, low priced, eco-friendly and offer competitive with existing tanned leather performances. The critical reviewed was targeting the recent alternatives trends to skin/hides salt preservation as well as vegetable tanning as a possible way to replace the use of basic chromium salt for the sustainability of leather industry and to further suggest another preservative and vegetable plant to be used in future studies.

Effect of Bacillus cereus peptide conjugated with nanoporous silica on inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes in apple juice, as an ecofriendly preservative.

Bacteriocins are ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial proteins/peptides. They are of great interest in the food processing industries as potential natural preservative agent to control food-borne pathogens. Bacillus spp. are one among the potential probiotics receiving more attention since they produce a broad spectrum of antimicrobial bioactive peptides. In this study, a small-scale medium composition and bioprocessing parameters were statistically optimized to increase the yield of bacteriocin namely cerein from Bacillus cereus NS02 showing antagonism against a wide range of food-borne pathogens. The cerein was partially purified, characterized, and evaluated for their optimal reaction condition. It was subjected to surface adsorption onto food-grade silica to evaluate its maximal adsorption, reached at 4h, 40°C, pH 6-7, and at the initial concentration of 200AUmL-1. The effectiveness of silica-adsorbed and silica-free cerein was checked in Listeria monocytogenes inoculated fresh apple juice and demonstrated biopreservative activity. In juice treated with silica-cerein, the colony forming unit (CFU) was found to be less in count on the 15th day of storage at 4°C whereas, free-cerein was found to contain 3.8logCFUmL-1. While, on the same day of storage, the control juice contained the strength of 14.6logCFUmL-1. Based on the above, this study concludes that the identified heat stable low molecular weight peptide cerein from B. cereus NS02 could serve as a potential biopreservative with effective antilisterial activity in the food system. However, a more detailed study is required to determine if their quality change especially the effect of cerein in organoleptic and nutritional properties of food beyond their addition is necessary, before it is to be exploited as an ecofriendly biopreservative.

Evaluation of Acorus calamus L. rhizome extract as a bio preservative against wood fungal decay

Wood is most preferred structural material throughout the world and is considered as a complex biological composite with ubiquitous nature. Throughout the world there is an immense pressure on primary durable timbers due to their ever increasing demand. To reduce pressure on the primary species like; Teak, Sal and Deodar etc. one has to look for the other lesser known or secondary species as an alternative. Durability of these species can be enhanced with application of different preservatives and for this one of the best approach is to use herbal based ecofriendly preservatives rather than hazardous chemicals. In this study, the antifungal activity of Acorus calamus rhizome extract was tested on less durable local wood species. The results showed that average growth of Polyporus fungus on taken wood samples were retarded up to 69.44% after applying 2% concentration of rhizome extract and act as suitable bio-preservative for non durable wood species.

Overall Quality Properties of Kiwifruit Treated by Cinnamaldehyde and Citral: Microbial, Antioxidant Capacity during Cold Storage.

This work was undertaken to evaluate the microbiological characteristics and antioxidant and physiological activities in kiwifruits (Actinida deliciosa var. Qinmei) with/without cinnamaldehyde (C1) and citral (C2) fumigation treatments (5 μL/L) during 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 d of storage at 4 °C. Essential oils (EOs) treatment lowered the total viable counts, yeast, and mold to 1.54, 2.36, and 2.05 log CFU/g, respectively. Moreover, EOs improved the antioxidant activities of kiwifruit. They enhanced phenolics and flavonoids content in fruit tissue by 49.48% at day 3 and 56.93% at day 6, respectively. In addition, ascorbic acid in treated groups had the lower losing rate. Similarly, MDA (malondialdehyde), H2 O2 (hydrogen peroxide), and • O2- (superoxide anion) production were effectively decreased in the range of 27.27% to 54.38%. Physicochemical characteristics showed that kiwifruits from treated group maintained higher levels of flesh luminosity and firmness. EOs also decreased the levels of reducing sugar by 45.97% at day 3, and increased the content of soluble protein and hydrolyzed amino acid. Therefore, postharvest EOs treatment has positive effects on delaying senescence and enhancing antioxidant capacities in kiwifruit.

Effect of Citrus wilsonii Tanaka extract combined with alginate-calcium coating on quality maintenance of white shrimps (Litopenaeus vannamei Boone)

The combined effect of Citrus wilsonii extract and alginate-calcium film coating on microbiological, chemical and sensory changes of white shrimps (Litopenaeus vannamei) was studied over 6 days of storage at 4 °C. A specific spoilage microorganism Lysinibacillus sphaericus S1 was isolated from local shrimp samples, which could cause the appearance of orange spoilage spots. The methanol extract of C. wilsonii exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against L. sphaericus S1, as well as several other food-borne pathogens. GC–MS analysis showed a high percent of furandione and furfural compounds in the extract. The extract with edible alginate-calcium coating was effective in delaying the quality deterioration of the shrimps stored at 4 °C. Total viable count of the treated shrimps was more than 10 times lower than the negative untreated control. The lower rate of the increase in pH and total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) was also observed in shrimps treated with the extract compared to the control group shrimps. After 6 days of refrigerated storage, shrimps treated with the extract combined with coating had the significant higher sensory score for odor, color and texture. The results suggest that the methanol extract from C. wilsonii may be promising to be developed as a new eco-friendly preservative that might be applied to extend the shelf life of shrimps maintaining good quality.

Wood based panel products: technology road map

Despite substitution of wood by several other materials like plastics, steel, aluminium etc., wood is still regarded as one of the most versatile raw materials especially in the construction/building sectors. The consumption of industrial wood has risen over the last decade in every region of the world. Also there is a positive correlation between consumption of industrial wood and national income. It has been estimated that the present demand for industrial wood in India is 54 million cubic meters, while the availability is estimated as 30 million cubic meters. To meet the growing need of demand and supply, R&D support is very much needed to provide the acceleration to assure the growth and prosperity of wood and wood based panel industry in future. Wood based panel products industry needs innovative technology solutions that can transform the way traditional wood-derived products are made and enable significant improvements in environmental footprint, manufacturing efficiency and productivity. There are five categories of driving forces which have made impact on the wood and engineered wood product technologies viz., raw material supply, manufacturing costs, product attributes and performance and environment friendly innovative products. Development of formaldehyde and volatile organic compound emission free binder for panel products, formulation of product standards at par with international standards, enhancement of service life of products by treatment with eco friendly preservatives, development of bio adhesives, and fire resistant panel products are some of the priority research areas that need to be investigated. In India, grain and other seeds are the main products of the farming activity and there is great interest in developing uses for residues that are currently burned or ploughed back into the ground. India alone produces more than 400 million tones of agricultural waste annually. Evolving technologies for the substitution of wood by using these non-wood renewable fibers from agro residues and bamboo are another important research area which needs to be worked out to meet the growing demand of panel products. In today’s highly sensitive environment, both products and the process have to confirm to certain environmental standards and therefore studies like life cycle analysis, carbon footprints and energy auditing on all next generation engineered wood products need to be investigated. The purpose of carrying out forestry/forest products research today should be to generate benefit for the people by the application of new knowledge generated so far in the field of natural resource management. There is a need for user friendly and problem solving thrust in the field of research, education and extension.