Coqueiro Júlia Matos, Singh Rakesh K, Kupski Larine, Fernandes Sibele Santos, Otero Deborah Murowaniecki
Graduate Program in Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Campus Ondina, Salvador, Bahia 40170-290, Brazil.
Food Science & Technology, College of Agricultural & Environmental Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, 706-542-3000, United States of America.
Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Jun;312:144099. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.144099. Epub 2025 May 9.
The growing environmental concerns over the use of synthetic polymers have encouraged the search for biodegradable alternatives in food packaging. Among natural sources, the Cactaceae family has emerged as a promising candidate due to its abundance, sustainability, and versatile functional properties. Mucilage extracted from Opuntia cladodes and pectin obtained from Pitaya peels exhibit valuable characteristics, including antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Furthermore, cactus fruit provides a rich source of bioactive pigments and nutrients, further enhancing the functionality of the resulting packaging materials. While the mechanical properties of current cactus-based films require further improvement through polymer blending and cross-linking techniques, their potential for extending shelf life and enabling intelligent packaging solutions is evident. This review aims to underscore the techno-functional attributes of Cactaceae species, focusing on their potential for developing biodegradable films and coatings through an in-depth literature review and bibliometric analysis.
对合成聚合物使用的环境担忧日益增加，这促使人们在食品包装中寻找可生物降解的替代品。在天然来源中，仙人掌科因其丰富性、可持续性和多样的功能特性而成为一个有前景的候选者。从仙人掌茎片提取的黏液和从火龙果果皮获得的果胶具有宝贵的特性，包括抗氧化和抗菌活性。此外，仙人掌果实提供了丰富的生物活性色素和营养物质，进一步增强了所得包装材料的功能。虽然目前基于仙人掌的薄膜的机械性能需要通过聚合物共混和交联技术进一步改进，但其延长保质期和实现智能包装解决方案的潜力是显而易见的。本综述旨在强调仙人掌科物种的技术功能属性，通过深入的文献综述和文献计量分析，重点关注其开发可生物降解薄膜和涂层的潜力。
