Valorisation of raw mango pickle industry waste into antimicrobial agent against postharvest fungal pathogens

In mango pickle industry, a significant quantity of mango seed kernels is discarded as solid wastes. These seed kernels can be an ideal source for obtaining extracts rich in bioactive polyphenolic compounds with good antioxidant properties. The potential of mango kernel phenolic extract (MKPE) was investigated as a natural and effective antimicrobial agent for controlling major postharvest fungal pathogen infections, a significant threat to global food supply chains. Fungal pathogens contribute to the deterioration of fruits, vegetables, and grains during storage and transportation, leading to economic losses and compromised food safety. MKPE was obtained from pickling variety 'Ramkela' raw mango kernels, and its phenolic composition was characterized using LC-MS. The in vitro antifungal activity of MKPE against Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum gloeosporoides, and Rhizopus stolonifer was evaluated in vitro. A concentration-dependent inhibition of fungal radial growth against all three pathogens was observed, exhibiting the potential of MKPE as a valuable natural resource for addressing postharvest losses caused by fungal pathogens. The extraction process yielded a total phenolic content of 2128 mg GAE/100 g. Major polyphenolic bioactive compounds present were mangiferin, quercetin, and rhamnetin. The in-vitro antimicrobial assay showed reduction in the radial growth and inhibition percent of the pathogens. EC₅₀ values of MKPE for B. cineria, C. gloeosporoides, and R. stolonifer was found to 364.17, 963.8 and 926 ppm, respectively. Our results demonstrate an economical, sustainable, and eco-friendly approach to manage post-harvest diseases rendered by fungi using mango MKPE from pickling industry waste.