Valorization of Chicken Byproducts for Bioactive Coatings to Extend the Shelf Life of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)

Abstract

Environmental concerns associated with petroleum-based packaging have led to the development of sustainable alternatives and active packaging solutions. The aim of this research is to formulate and characterize bioactive packaging films based on pectin (P, 2 %), sodium alginate (SA, 1.5 %), and varying concentrations of chicken byproducts protein hydrolysates (CBP-PHs) that are derived from the enzymatic hydrolysis of CBP using protease generated from Bacillus siamensis F2 and extend the shelf life of okra using coatings. The films F1, P+SA; F2, P+SA+1%CBP-PHs; F3, P+SA+1.5%CBP-PHs; and F4, P+SA+2%CBP-PHs were analyzed for physical, antibacterial, antioxidant, and structural properties. Among them, the F4 film showed the highest antioxidant (diphenylpicrylhydrazyl, 53 ± 0.75 %), antibacterial (Staphylococcus aureus, 24.5 ± 0.16 mm and Klebsiella pneumoniae, 21 ± 0.12 mm), and surface hydrophobicity (132º) properties due to the highest concentration of CBP-PHs. Based on this, F4 film coatings were applied to okra to evaluate their ability to extend shelf life, and F1-coating and uncoated okra were used as controls. F4-coated okra exhibited lower weight loss (78 ± 0.4 %), chlorophyll loss, and ascorbic acid (7.6 ± 0.1 mg/100 g), while effectively retaining firmness (51 ± 0.8 N) and color. These findings highlight the potential of CBP-PH-impregnated active coatings as a sustainable alternative with excellent shelf life extension, supporting the development of green packaging technology that aligns with global sustainability goals. Future research will aim to optimize the F4 film formulation for commercial production and investigate its application on various perishable products.