Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Effect of Biodegradable Films Containing Pitaya (Stenocereus thurberi) Extracts during the Refrigerated Storage of Fish

Daniela Castro-Enríquez, José M. Miranda, Marcos Trigo, Francisco Rodríguez-Félix*, Santiago P. Aubourg*, Jorge Barros-Velázquez

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study focused on the quality loss inhibition of fish muscle during refrigerated storage. Two parallel experiments were carried out that were focused on the employment of pitaya (Stenocereus thurberi) extracts in biodegradable packing films. On the one hand, a pitaya–gelatin film was employed for hake (Merluccius merluccius) muscle storage. On the other hand, a pitaya–polylactic acid (PLA) film was used for Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) muscle storage. In both experiments, fish-packing systems were stored at 4 °C for 8 days. Quality loss was determined by lipid damage and microbial activity development. The presence of the pitaya extract led to an inhibitory effect (p < 0.05) on peroxide, fluorescent compound, and free fatty acid (FFA) values in the gelatin–hake system and to a lower (p < 0.05) formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, fluorescent compounds, and FFAs in the PLA–mackerel system. Additionally, the inclusion of pitaya extracts in the packing films slowed down (p < 0.05) the growth of aerobes, anaerobes, psychrotrophs, and proteolytic bacteria in the case of the pitaya–gelatin films and of aerobes, anaerobes, and proteolytic bacteria in the case of pitaya–PLA films. The current preservative effects are explained on the basis of the preservative compound presence (betalains and phenolic compounds) in the pitaya extracts.

Original languageEnglish
Article number544
JournalAntioxidants
Volume12
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was funded by the SPANISH NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (CSIC, Spain), grant number 201370E001; and by CONACYT (Mexico), grant number 285445.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.

Keywords

  • Stenococcus thurberi
  • fish muscle
  • gelatin
  • lipid hydrolysis
  • lipid oxidation
  • microbial development
  • natural preservatives
  • polylactic acid
  • quality
  • refrigeration

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