Fabrication, characterization, and biological properties of chitosan membranes incorporated with Andrographis paniculata extract for food packaging and preservation

The primary objective of this research is to develop chitosan (CS) membranes incorporated with Andrographis paniculata leaf extract (APLE) at varying concentrations (1, 2, and 3 wt% of chitosan). The study investigates the influence of APLE incorporation on the optical, physicomechanical properties, moisture content, water solubility, swelling percentage, and water vapor transmission rate of the membranes. Advanced analytical techniques were employed to confirm the successful integration of APLE into the CS matrix. The antimicrobial efficacy of the membranes was evaluated using the agar diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, revealing enhanced antimicrobial activity with the addition of APLE to the CS membranes. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory potential of the synthesized membranes was assessed by their ability to prevent the denaturation of egg albumin. In an applied context, bananas coated with CS membranes containing 1 wt% APLE demonstrated extended shelf life compared to both control samples and those coated with pure CS membranes. These findings highlight the potential application of biologically derived CS-APLE membranes as an alternative to petroleum-based plastic packaging. Consequently, this study presents a safe and sustainable solution to mitigate the issue of non-biodegradable plastic, emphasizing its potential for packaging and food preservation applications.