Functional Characteristics Improvement of Edible Film through the Addition of Gambier and Bay Leaf Extract

Abstract

Composing functional edible film focused on local materials has been explored in this study. However, producing an edible film with strong capability as an antioxidant and antimicrobe has not been successful. The incorporation of one or more functional compounds, such as gambier extract and bay leaf extract into canna starch, should offer the solution. These compounds should work in synergy in order to improve the functional characteristics of edible film. Furthermore, the film should have mechanical characteristics which fulfille Japan Industrial Standard (JIS) (1975), i.e., it should belong to a strong category. This research studied the effects of gambier extract and bay leaf extract addition on edible film characteristics. A completely randomized design was used, and two factors were investigated, namely gambier extract (1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 percent, w/v) and bay leaf extract (0.0, 3.0, and 6.0 percent, w/v). The parameters that were observed included mechanical (thickness, elongation percentage, water vapour transmission rate) as well as functional characteristics (antioxidant and antibacterial activity). The results showed that thickness, elongation percentage and water vapour transmission rate of the functional edible film were 0.18 - 0.27 mm, 7.33 - 9.00% and 30.43 - 46.07g.m-2.d-1, respectively, whereas antioxidant and antibacterial activity (value of inhibition diameter) were 23.24 - 40.58 mg.mL-1 and 1.33 - 1.83 mm, respectively. Edible film produced in this research had an antioxidant activity of strong category with a thickness that fulfilled JIS 1975 standard.