Effects of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Film Incorporated with Carvacrol and Its Nanoemulsion on the Quality of Grapes

Abstract

In this study, the effects of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) films enriched with carvacrol and its nanoemulsion for the preservation of grapes were evaluated. Grapes were coated with film-forming solutions, and the quality characteristics were evaluated during storage. The average droplet size and zeta potential of the nanoemulsion was determined as 114 ± 0.4 nm and - 28.7 ± 2.6 mV, respectively. The mechanical properties of the HPMC films containing carvacrol (CEO) (0.29 g/L) and carvacrol nanoemulsion (CNE) (14.64 g/L) were determined. Although HPMC coated grapes incorporated with CEO and CNE led to browning and softening after the 14th day of storage, they significantly decreased the total viable counts, yeast and molds. Remarkably, grapes coated HPMC films incorporated with CNE were more efficient than CEO films, which cause a reduction of 2.34 log CFU/g after coating. Moreover, the total viable count was 4.88 log CFU/g for the control, whereas there was no growth in the CEO and CNE groups until the third day of storage.