Thai university develops antimicrobial CBD coating for strawberries.
Researchers at Thailand’s Thammasat University have developed a new method to extend the shelf life of strawberries using cannabidiol (CBD), a non-hallucinogenic compound found in cannabis. By incorporating CBD into an edible antimicrobial coating, the decay process of strawberries is slowed down.
A recent report published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces by the American Chemical Society highlights this innovative use of CBD.
CBD Keeps Strawberries Fresh
Cannabidiol is well-known for its potential therapeutic effects, but it also possesses antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Previous studies have shown that CBD can inhibit the growth of certain disease-causing bacteria and fungi, including those responsible for the rotting of fresh fruits and vegetables.
However, for CBD to be widely used in food or food preservation, the oily compound needs to be evenly distributed in water. One possible solution is to encapsulate the CBD molecules in edible polymers. To test this approach, the researchers created a food coating using CBD-filled nanoparticles to promote antimicrobial activity and prolong the freshness of strawberries.
The researchers encapsulated CBD in polyglycolide, a biodegradable polymer commonly used in drug delivery. They mixed the most stable nanoparticles, containing 20% CBD by mass, with sodium alginate in water. The strawberries were then immersed in solutions containing varying amounts of nanoparticles, followed by a second immersion in a mixture of ascorbic acid and calcium chloride to transform the colorless coating into a gel.
The untreated and treated strawberries were placed in open plastic containers and refrigerated. After 15 days, the strawberries treated with CBD showed slower ripening and decay compared to the untreated samples, potentially due to reduced microbial growth.
The coating with the highest concentration of CBD-loaded nanoparticles retained the dark red color of the fruit, improved its antioxidant activity, and provided the greatest antimicrobial protection during storage. This indicates that this treatment offers the longest shelf life for strawberries. The researchers conclude that encapsulated CBD can be effectively used to create a colorless antimicrobial coating.
Source: packagingeurope.com (EN)
Subscribe to the website by e-mail
If you don't want to miss our updates let us notify you by email! Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notices of new posts.
