A review of plant-derived arabinogalactan-rich carbohydrate polymer (mucilage) complexed with other biopolymers to formulate sustainable antimicrobial packaging and coating material.

An increase in the demand for sustainable alternatives to synthetic packaging materials has spotlighted the benefits of plant-based polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids to create food packaging films and coatings. Among all the biopolymers, mucilage is a complex polysaccharide rich in various sugars with remarkable physiological and bioactive properties, making it a suitable candidate for developing sustainable and antimicrobial films and coatings. This review aims to describe the chemical composition, sources, and functional properties of mucilage, elaborating on the role of arabinogalactan in enhancing film properties. Arabinogalactan-rich mucilage has excellent barrier, mechanical, and thermal properties, but when blended with polymeric materials, it improves functionality for packaging. Different characterization techniques are discussed to show the structural and morphological properties of mucilage, along with its oxygen and water vapor permeability, film-forming capabilities, and antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. This review highlights the potential of mucilage as a sustainable solution for food preservation, and modern production schemes are appealing for the development of innovative food packaging solutions. Overall, the present review provides comprehensive knowledge on the utilization of arabinogalactan-rich mucilage in food packaging applications and explores future trends in improving the potential of arabinogalactan-rich mucilage for the development of innovative edible film and coating.