Synergistic effect of berry wax and miswak extract in a carboxymethylcellulose-based coating for banana preservation

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is widely used in food packaging films and coatings; however, its pure form exhibits inadequate physico-mechanical and thermal properties, as well as a lack of active functionalities, which limits its broader application. To address these limitations, this study incorporated berry wax (W, 0-12 %) and Salvadora persica L. (miswak) bioactive extract (ME, 0-4 %) into a CMC matrix. FTIR and XRD analyses confirmed good structural compatibility among the components, while SEM characterized the surface morphology. The incorporation of up to 9 % W and 3 % ME synergistically enhanced the films' thermal stability, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial efficacy (inhibition zones of 0-12 mm against both E. coli and S. aureus). Water barrier properties were significantly improved, with reductions in moisture content (22.36 % to 11.05 %), water solubility (42.00 % to 36.11 %), swelling power (28.47 % to 18.01 %), and water vapor permeability from (1.91 ± 0.5) × 10^-11 to (1.43 ± 1.0) × 10^-11 g·m·m^-2·s^-1·Pa^-1. Notably, the optimal coating formulation (CMC/9%W/3%ME) effectively reduced postharvest loss in bananas stored at room temperature, demonstrating its potential as an active coating material for extending the shelf life of fresh produce.