FILMES COMESTÍVEIS BIOATIVOS BASEADOS EM ALGINATO, POLPA DE MANGABA (Hancornia speciosa) E Saccharomyces boulardii

Abstract

In the last decade, interest in edible and biodegradable films based on biopolymers for application as food packaging materials has grown, due to the biodegradable, non-toxic and biocompatible nature of these materials. Edible films, in addition to their passive barrier properties, can act as carriers of bioactive compounds with functional properties such as probiotics, prebiotics and fruit pulps, which can provide beneficial effects for the health of consumers. In this context, the objective of this research was to develop edible films based on alginate, mangaba pulp (Hancornia speciosa) and the probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii for application as food packaging material. The films were prepared based on alginate (1.5%), glycerol (0.6g/g of biopolymer), S. boulardii (9 log CFU/g) and mangaba pulp (0-40%) and evaluated in relation to in its properties related to water, physical-mechanical, optical, thermal, content of bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity and probiotic viability. The addition of mangaba pulp improved the water-related, tensile and thermal properties of the films that showed lower moisture content, water solubility, water vapor permeability, thermal stability and tensile strength and elongation at break. The increase in the concentration of mangaba pulp in the film-forming solution made the films darker, with yellow tones and more saturated, visible to the naked eye, which can be attractive for the preparation of food packaging. The addition of probiotic yeast and/or mangaba pulp made the films opaquer and more improved their barrier properties to ultraviolet and visible light. Incorporation of mangaba pulp in the filmogenic suspension incorporated bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity to the resulting films. Films were able to protect the probiotic cells during film formation, and during storage those films made with mangaba pulp and stored at 4°C showed the highest viability of the probiotic yeast during storage. Thus, these films represent new bioactive materials with potential application as food packaging materials.