Safe and sustainable food packaging: Argemone albiflora mediated green synthesized silver-carrageenan nanocomposite films.

Silver-Carrageenan (Ag/Carr) nanocomposite film for food packing application by the green method using Argemone albiflora leaf extract has been developed in this study. Different plant parts of Argemone albiflora (blue stem prickly poppy) are used all over the world for the treatment of microbial infections, jaundice, skin diseases etc. GC-MS analysis was used to examine the phytochemical found in the Argemone albiflora leaf extract which reduces the metal ions to nanoscale. The biopolymer employed in the synthesis of nanocomposite film was carrageenan, a natural carbohydrate (polysaccharide) extracted from edible red seaweeds. We developed a food packing that is biodegradable, eco-friendly, economical and free from harmful chemicals. These films possess better UV barrier and mechanical and antimicrobial properties with 1 mM AgNO3 solution. The presence of silver nanoparticles in the carrageenan matrix was evident from FESEM. The mechanical properties were analysed by a Universal testing machine (UTM) and different properties like water vapour permeability (WVP), moisture content (MC) and total soluble matter (TSM) important for food packing applications were also analysed. The antimicrobial properties of the synthesized film samples were studied against E. coli and S. aureus pathogenic bacteria. These films were employed for the storage of cottage cheese (dairy product) and strawberries (fruit). This packing increased the shelf life of the packed food effectively. Ag/Carr films are biodegradable within four weeks.