Every year the world loses about 50% of fruits and vegetables post-harvest and in the supply chain. The use of biodegradable coatings and films with antioxidant properties has been considered an excellent alternative to extend the shelf life of food. Therefore, the objective of this work was to develop a coating based on yam (Dioscorea rotundata L.) starch-containing lime, fennel, and lavender essential oils to extend the shelf life of strawberries (Fragaria vesca l.). The tensile properties, barrier properties (water vapour permeability (WVP) and oxygen permeability (OP)), moisture content, water-solubility, absorption capacity, water contact angle, optical properties, the antioxidant activity of the resultant starch-based coatings were evaluated. After that, the active properties of the coatings were assessed on strawberries inoculated with Aspergillus niger during 14 days of storage at 25 °C. The results showed that the incorporation of essential oils improved the elongation and WVP and provided antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial activity in the films. In particular, the essential oil of lime showed higher antioxidant activity. This fact caused the unwanted modification of other properties, such as the decrease in tensile strength, elastic modulus and increase in OP. The present study revealed the potential use of lime, fennel, and lavender essential oils incorporated into a polymeric yam starch matrix to produce biodegradable active films (antioxidant and antimicrobial). Obtained films showed to be a viable alternative to increase the shelf life of strawberries and protect them against Aspergillus niger.

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El objetivo de este trabajo es obtener y caracterizar colágeno de diferentes partes residuales del pez de agua dulce Prochilodus magdalenae (Pm) para explorar su aplicación en películas biodegradables. Se utiliza piel, escamas, aletas y cabezas de Pm para extraer colágeno y elaborar películas usando hidroxipropil metilcelulosa (HPMC). Los resultados muestran que la extracción de colágeno con mayor rendimiento se obtiene de la piel. Las mejores propiedades térmicas se observan en la piel y las escamas. Las películas biodegradables se hacen más fuertes, menos rígidas y deformables con la adición de colágeno. Además, se observan dos etapas de degradación térmica típicas del HPMC. Las micrografías revelan que las películas ganan suavidad superficial con la presencia del colágeno, aunque la barrera al vapor de agua se hace ligeramente menor. Se concluye que el uso de colágeno obtenido de residuos de Pm tiene aplicaciones prometedoras para el desarrollo de películas biodegradables.