Biodegradable plastics with natural antioxidant: A Review

Abstract

Food spoilage is a negative change that occurs physically, chemically and microbiologically in food whether it is still fresh or has become a processed product. Oxidative reactions can cause color changes, decreased nutritional value, changes in odor and unpleasant taste, so antioxidants are needed to avoid this. The aim of this review is to examine a number of natural antioxidants that can be used in biodegradable plastics. Biodegradable plastic is a type of plastic that decomposes naturally with the help of microorganisms. The use of biodegradable plastic can be applied to products such as fruit or meat to prevent oxidation. Inhibition of oxidation in food ingredients greatly influences the quality and appearance of food ingredients. Apart from that, it is also beneficial for nutrition and increases the shelf life of the product. Antioxidants can be obtained synthetically or naturally. Natural antioxidants are prioritized by researchers for study because of their safety in use and no health side effects if consumed. Antioxidants are very easy to obtain in plants, either in the form of extracts or in the form of essential oils. Apart from that, natural antioxidants are also often produced from adding chitosan to biodegradable plastic.