Production and Preliminary Characterization of Microbial Cellulose Generated in Fermented Moringa and Coated with Flaxseed Mucilage

This research presents a unique approach to partially characterizing microbial cellulose films. The films were produced during the fermentation of moringa stems, a novel substrate, and coated with flaxseed mucilage. The fermentation of kombucha using moringa stem infusion produced microbial cellulose discs (185 g/L) coated with flaxseed mucilage. The fermentation of kombucha using moringa stem infusion resulted in the production of microbial cellulose discs (185 g/L) coated with flaxseed mucilage. The study conducted a comprehensive physical, chemical, and antimicrobial characterization of the discs, both coated (RCD) and not coated (NCD) with flaxseed mucilage. The physical characterization revealed significant changes when coated with flaxseed mucilage, including increased opacity (31.06%), barrier properties (235 nm), thickness (0.85 mm), and color analysis (L = 61.83, a* = 22.13 and b* = 44.21). Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the absorption bands at 3344 and 2894 cm⁻¹, indicating cellulose type I and a crystallinity of the cellulose (94%). Chemical analysis evaluated the antioxidant capacity using DPPH (68.49–71.39%), ABTS (77.24–68.40%), total phenols (68.40–112.30 mg GAE/g), and FRAP (1103–1124 µM TE/g) tests and found no differences in activity between the discs. Antimicrobial activity differed between treatments against pathogens. NCDs inhibited the growth of E. coli (16.4 mm) and S. aureus (11.4 mm), while RCDs inhibited Salmonella sp. (12.5 mm). The results suggest that cellulose formed during the fermentation of kombucha with moringa stems and coated with flaxseed mucilage can have various applications due to its antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.