Food Safety and Packaging
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Physicochemical, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties of tragacanth gum/whey protein concentrate films containing fennel essential oil and chitosan nanoparticles

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Hojjat Azad 1
Tooraj Mehdizadeh 1
Shahin Zomorodi 2

1 Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

2 Agricultural Engineering Research Department, West Azerbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Urmia

10.30466/fsp.2026.57764.1044
Abstract
Active films based on tragacanth gum and whey protein concentrate (WPC) were developed with Fennel Essential Oil (FEO) and Chitosan Nanoparticles (CNPs). Nine formulations were prepared using a 3 × 3 factorial design) FEO: 0, 3, 4%; CNPs: 0, 5, 8%). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry identified ten compounds, accounting for 99.78% of the volatile fraction. Compared with the control film, FEO4–CNP8 showed greater thickness (0.160 vs. 0.037 mm; p < 0.05) and lower moisture content (31.48 vs. 37.15%), water solubility (29.99 vs. 45.13%), and swelling capacity (154.15 vs. 244.44%) (Tukey’s HSD test, p < 0.05). FEO concentration (F (2,18) = 1986.94; p < 0.001), CNP concentration (F (2,18) = 1068.42; p < 0.001), and their interaction (F (4,18) = 725.05; p < 0.001) significantly affected DPPH (1,1 Diphenyl 2 Picrylhydrazyl) radical-scavenging activity. FEO4–CNP8 (59.48%) did not differ from FEO4–CNP0 (59.05%), exceeded the control (21.42%; p < 0.05), and remained below BHT (Butylated hydroxytoluene) (92.36%; p < 0.05). The control film showed no antibacterial activity, whereas all FEO- and/or CNP-containing films inhibited the four tested bacteria, with FEO4–CNP8 producing zones of 28.33–33.33 mm. To our knowledge, this is the first study combining tragacanth gum and WPC with FEO and CNPs. These films show promise for active packaging; whether effects are synergistic or additive was not formally tested.

Keywords

Active packaging
Chitosan nanoparticles
Fennel essential oil
Tragacanth gum
Whey protein concentrate
Subjects
Food Safety and Packaging

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 13 November 2026

  • Receive Date 13 October 2026
  • Revise Date 06 November 2026
  • Accept Date 13 November 2026

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