Valorization of Melissa Pomegranate Peels and Seeds Waste to Obtain Extracts for Increasing the Shelf-Life of Chicken Patties During Cold Storage

Purpose

This study aims to valorize pomegranate seeds and peels (as food waste) to develop a natural preservative for extending chicken patties’ shelf-life.

Methods

Bioactive compounds from pomegranate waste were obtained by green solvent extraction and quantitatively analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Antimicrobial efficacy was also determined. Chicken patties enriched with extracts to monitor thiobarbituric acid (TBA), total volatile nitrogen (TVN), water holding capacity (WHC), pH, and cooking properties during 12 days of 4 °C storage, and half-life was determined.

Results

The major bioactive compounds in seed and peel extracts were tannic (18.95 and 41.25 mg/kg) and gallic acid (16.49 and 36.59 mg/kg). Phenolics and flavonoids reached 66.71 and 9.72 mg/mL in seeds and 187.60 and 25.53 mg/mL in peels. Extracts showed antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with considerable inhibition zones for seed (10, 9, 8 µm/mL) and peel (12, 10, and 10 µm/mL). Formulating chicken patties with 1%(w/w) extracts reduced lipid oxidation (TBA), TVN, and cooking loss by 48.2, 49.2, and 6.6% but increased WHC by 14.9% at the end of storage.

Conclusion

The study enlightened the feasibility of using peels and seeds of pomegranate as a natural and economical alternative to chemical preservatives to prolong the shelf-life of meat products. The proposed valorization methodology converted food waste to natural preservatives and reduced food waste by extending patties’ shelf-life. Implementing such a “waste valorization” and “waste reduction” approach could significantly enhance resource efficiency to meet sustainable development goals (SDGs) and net zero.

Recommendation

Future research might consider using emerging technologies (e.g., ultrasound and electric field) to increase extraction efficiency and nanotechnology to enhance the stability of seed and peel extracts. Also, establishing a well-planned collecting and transporting methodology for fresh pomegranate waste to limit microbial contaminations could be considered for successful practical applications.

Graphical Abstract