Plastic films for food wrapping, packing are widely used due to their special properties. These fossil fuel derived films are associated with long degradation time, toxicity and environmental pollution. Pineapple waste, sea weed can be very good renewable, alternative carbon sources to produce edible films. These edible films can be consumed by lower animals thereby overcoming the disposal problems of accumulating waste plastic and hence reducing pollution. In the present study, crosslinked polymers are prepared from pectin (P)/sodium alginate (SA) through crosslinking with bio-based acids such as citric acid (CA) and tartaric acid (TA). Pectin was extracted from waste pineapple shell and sodium alginate extracted from seaweed. The crosslinked films were characterized by using various analytical techniques such as FT-IR, thermogravimetry, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mice feed study (testing of edibility), plant growth substrate and vermicomposting of these films was studied. Finally a suitable application of these newly prepared polymeric films has been evaluated as wrapping material on food products such as chocolate and Indian vegetable puff to enhance the shelf life of food.

Pancreatic alpha amylase (PAA) inhibitory activity of cinnamon, cumin was evaluated in vitro to search new anti-diabetic agents as alternatives to synthetic medicines. Bark of cinnamon, seeds of cumin, fenugreek, nutmeg, fennel, and buds of clove were extracted with hot water, methanol, chloroform, benzene, and ethyl acetate and 30 extracts were tested for the presence of PAA inhibitory activity using qualitative and quantitative methods and their modes of inhibition were determined. Presence of alpha amylase inhibitors was identified in 18 extracts in quantitative assay. Benzene extracts of cinnamon, clove, fenugreek, and nutmeg and chloroform extract of cumin showed highest anti-amylase potential. The IC50 values of these potential extracts ranged between 2.09 ± 0.12 mg/ml and 2.89 ± 0.079 mg/ml with lowest IC50 value noted for benzene extract of cinnamon and highest IC50 value was noted for benzene extract of fenugreek. Based on the values of Vmax and Km compared to control, it was found that all these extracts display non-competitive mode of inhibition on amylase activity. In conclusion, active constituents of these five extracts possess anti-amylase properties and can be used in management of diabetes mediated complications.