Antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Pituranthos scoparius extracts in alginate/gelatin matrix for pumpkin preservation

Recent research efforts have increasingly focused on the development of environmentally sustainable, bio-based antimicrobial and antioxidant films as alternatives to conventional plastics, which pose significant environmental and biological hazards. In this study, gelatin derived from chicken feet was combined with essential oils, ethanolic extracts from the plant Pituranthos scoparius (PS), and alginate to fabricate films with enhanced antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. A total of six film formulations, including controls, were produced, and their physicochemical and mechanical characteristics, as well as antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, were systematically evaluated. The analyses conducted using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) revealed modifications in the chemical structure of the biopolymer films, likely resulting from interactions among the functional groups of the constituent polymers. Sensory evaluation of the films in contact with minimally processed pumpkin slices demonstrated favorable performance. Furthermore, the incorporation of bioactive compounds, including the essential oil and ethanolic extract from P. scoparius, enhanced the stability and sensory acceptability of the processed pumpkin samples.