Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2025
09:39
A Platform of Anti-biofilm Assays Suited to the Exploration of Natural Compound Libraries
Published on: December 27, 2016
17.9K
A New Method to Determine Antioxidant Activities of Biofilms Using a pH Indicator (Resazurin) Model System
Young-Teck Kim1, Robert Kimmel2, Xiyu Wang1
1Department of Sustainable Biomaterials, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 11, 2023
Summary
This study found that gelatin-based films with BHA significantly reduced lipid oxidation in food systems, while ascorbic acid films accelerated it. A novel pH indicator system effectively monitored antioxidant activity.
Area of Science:
- Food Science and Technology
- Polymer Science
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Biopolymeric films are explored for active packaging applications.
- Antioxidants are incorporated into films to prevent food oxidation.
- Different antioxidants exhibit varied mechanisms and effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the antioxidant activity of gelatin-based films (GBF) with different antioxidants (ascorbic acid, phytic acid, BHA).
- To assess the impact of these films on lipid oxidation in a simulated food system.
- To compare the effectiveness of a pH indicator system with a DPPH free radical test for monitoring antioxidant activity.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of gelatin-based films with plasticizer and antioxidants.
- Monitoring color changes using a pH indicator (resazurin) in an oil-based food system (AES-R) over 14 days.
- Measuring instant antioxidant activity using a DPPH free radical test.
- Assessing film properties like tensile strength and oxygen barrier.
Main Results:
- GBF with phytic acid exhibited enhanced tensile strength.
- GBF with BHA showed the most significant retardation of lipid oxidation (59.8% at 14 days).
- Ascorbic acid-based GBFs accelerated oxidation, indicating prooxidant activity, but showed high free radical scavenging (71.7%) via DPPH.
- BHA-based GBFs demonstrated effective free radical scavenging (41.7%).
Conclusions:
- BHA is effective in retarding lipid oxidation in gelatin-based films for food applications.
- Ascorbic acid and phytic acid showed limited or prooxidant effects in this specific food system.
- The resazurin-based pH indicator system is a viable method for assessing antioxidant activity in food systems.
