Smart edible films based on mucilage of lallemantia iberica seed incorporated with curcumin for freshness monitoring

The objective of the present work was first to develop a smart packaging system based on Lallemantia iberica seed gum (LISG)/curcumin and, subsequently, investigate its physicochemical characteristics and biological activity. Finally, the response of LISG/curcumin films against pH change and the spoilage of shrimp were tested. The barrier properties and mechanical performance of the films improved as the curcumin concentration increased. FT-IR analysis revealed the formation of physical interaction between LISG and curcumin. LISG/curcumin films showed a continuous and steady release of curcumin. The incorporation of curcumin into LISG matrix imparts antioxidant and antibacterial/mold activity to the films. A strong positive correlation was observed between total volatile base nitrogen (TVBN) content of shrimp and a* (redness) during storage time (Pearson correlation = 0.975). Eventually, LISG/curcumin film could be a promising smart packaging system capable of detecting food spoilage.

Automated summary

The study demonstrated that LISG/curcumin films showed improved physicochemical characteristics and biological activity as the concentration of curcumin increased. Additionally, the films performed well in detecting the spoilage of shrimp.