Evaluation of novel Prosopis juliflora water soluble leaf ethanolic extract as preservation coating material of cucumber

Abstract

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is an economically important vegetable worldwide.Cucumbers have short shelf life with sensitivity to chilling injuries and fungal and bacterial postharvest diseases. Prosopis juliflora water-soluble leaf ethanolic (PJ-WS-LE) extract has a strong antimicrobial activity against many spoiling agents with time-stability and no phytotoxicity on fruits. The present study explores PJ-WS-LE extract efficacy as a coating material to preserve cucumber. 8 mg/ml of PJ-WS-LE extract increased cucumber shelf life at 22°C by 77%. At week 2, cucumber coated with PJ-WS-LE extract alone showed less than 10 CFU/g of mold as well as 76.9% and 85.8% reduction of total yeast and aerobic bacterial counts, respectively. PJ-WS-LE extract treated samples maintained the slightest change in total soluble solids and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity. Embedding PJ-WS-LE extract in 0.5% chitosan did not improve the quality maintaining results. In vivo overall results highlight the potentials of PJ-WS-LE extract as a possible coating replacement of chemical fungicides. Novelty impact statement:• Prosopis juliflora water-soluable leaf ethanolic (PJ-WS-LE) extract extended cucumbers shelf life at 22°C by 77%.• PJ-WS-LE extract served as an antimicrobial agent that lowers surrounding bacterial and fungal counts of coated cucumber samples.• 8 mg/ml of Prosopis juliflora water-soluble leaf ethanolic maintained cucumbers storage quality-parameters up to three weeks at 8°C.

Prosopis juliflora: nutritional value, bioactive activity, and potential application in human nutrition

“…The leaves can help reduce hepatic necrosis, 6 have anticancer action, 7 and are used in treating headaches 8 . Water‐soluble P. juliflora leaf ethanolic extract was also studied and characterized with chitosan 9,10 . That extract was used as an antimicrobial coating on strawberries, showing itself efficient against several deteriorating agents.…”

“…Prosopis juliflora leaf ethanolic extract in combination with chitosan 1% is also recommended for coating strawberries in low temperatures (4 °C), with the aim of extending the shelf life 10 . Saleh & Abu‐Dieyeh 9 analyzed using the same extract on cucumber, which also showed itself as an excellent antimicrobial barrier, protecting against mold spores and yeasts.…”

“…8 Water-soluble P. juliflora leaf ethanolic extract was also studied and characterized with chitosan. 9,10 That extract was used as an antimicrobial coating on strawberries, showing itself efficient against several deteriorating agents. Prosopis juliflora leaf ethanolic extract in combination with chitosan 1% is also recommended for coating strawberries in low temperatures (4 °C), with the aim of extending the shelf life.…”