Biodegradable green packaging with antimicrobial functions based on the bioactive compounds from tropical plants and their by-products

Background: Biodegradable packaging from natural biopolymers can be further enhanced with antimicrobial and antioxidant agents to form active packaging. Scope and approach: Plant extracts are attractive components for biodegradable food packaging owing to their natural origin and functionality (antimicrobial/antioxidant activity). Here we demonstrate the effect of bioactive contents of tropical plants and their by-products as promising natural ingredients in the fabrication of biopolymer food packaging. Key findings and conclusions: Different parts of tropical plants, such as leaves, flowers, seeds, and roots, can potentially be utilized for new and green packaging systems due to their biological nature. In the food industry, lipid oxidation and microbial spoilage are two problems which reduce the shelf life of food products. It seems that the use of potential bioactive agents in biodegradable packaging is a promising strategy to solve this problem, offering a green alternative to traditional packaging and enhancing the shelf-life of food.