Novel basil seed gum/gelatin composite films incorporating tea polyphenols: Preparation, characterization and application in pork shelf-life extension

With the growing demand for extending the shelf life of perishable food products, the development of active packaging films has garnered considerable attention in food science and technology. In this study, a novel degradable bioactive film was developed based on a basil seed gum (BSG) and gelatin (GEL) composite matrix incorporated with tea polyphenols (TP). The effects of TP at varying concentrations on the physicochemical, mechanical, and bioactive characteristics of the BSG/GEL films were systematically investigated. Molecular docking and infrared spectroscopy characterization confirmed hydrogen bonding and other non-covalent interactions among the three components. Increasing TP concentrations significantly influenced the microstructure, thickness and light barrier properties of the composite films while reducing moisture sensitivity. Among the tested formulations, the film containing 6% TP exhibited optimal performance, achieving a tensile strength of 90.46 ± 2.54 MPa, a water vapor permeability of 0.55 ± 0.01 g mm/m² h kPa, and a DPPH radical scavenging activity of 27.03 ± 0.81%. Moreover, TP incorporation notably enhanced the antibacterial activity of the films, particularly against Escherichia coli. When applied to the storage of chilled pork, the BSG/GEL-TP film effectively prolonged shelf life up to nine days. These findings suggest that BSG/GEL-TP composite films can serve as promising bioactive packaging materials for improving food quality and safety during storage. The loaded of tea polyphenols (TP) improved the antibacterial property, the films had better antibacterial activity against E. coli . When the concentration of TP was 10%, the antibacterial zone was 8.04 mm. Finally, basil seed gum/gelatin (B/G)-T composite film was used to the storage of chilled pork, and extended the shelf life to the ninth day. Therefore, B/G-T composite film could be applied as active packaging film for storage and fresh-keeping of chilled pork.