ABSTRACT
Bioactive edible films and coatings comprise one of the new trends in emerging technologies applied to food preservation and biofortification. This research and innovation project examines its study based on the importance of generating added value to fruit and vegetable products generated in Colombia, the use of phytogenetic resources, the existing need to generate innovative products, reduce the consumption of low biodegradable polymeric materials, search for alternatives to slow down post-harvest losses of products and the importance of endogenizing emerging technologies making them viable. Therefore, the development of active biopolymeric matrices, known as edible films and coatings carrying bioactive compounds, is of great interest for the study in many perishable products. It is known that secondary metabolites in plants contribute to the generation of antimicrobial systems that occur in response to their interaction with the environment, therefore the extraction of bioactive compounds or metabolites, e.g., polyphenols, from the environment is of great interest. Polyphenols, from propolis, aloe vera, agroindustrial residues and edible fraction of mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) and copoazu (Theobroma grandiflorum), will allow knowing the existing interaction between their chemical components, determined by preliminary phytochemical analysis, identification (HPLC) and their possible bioactivity (antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal). Through the use of hydrocolloids (sodium alginate, achira starch and gelatin), emulsified mixtures (hydrocolloid + plasticizer + bioactive compound extracted from any of the above sources) are designed, which allow obtaining coating-forming formulations (FFR) and viable biopolymeric matrices with a high degree of biological activity, It is therefore necessary to evaluate their mechanical properties (tension, elongation), optical properties (transparency, colorimetric parameters), water solubility, PVA (water vapor permeability) and their ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria and molds of relevance to public health and post-harvest handling of different perishable products.
