Production and Characterization of Starch Films Incorporated with Allspice Extract: Physical, Structural and Antibacterial Properties
Abstract
The widespread use of plastic packaging poses serious threats to both human health and environmental sustainability. These risks are becoming increasingly evident, particularly with the rise in packaged food consumption. This has increased interest in biodegradable food packaging materials that are harmless to human health, other living things, and the environment. In this study, pure starch films and starch-based composite films containing allspice (Pimenta racemosa) extract at 1%, 3%, and 5% were synthesized. Various properties including antibacterial activity, surface morphology, intermolecular interactions, water vapor permeability, opacity, density, moisture content, thickness, swelling behavior, and solubility were examined for physical, structural, and functional characterization of the films. Opacity, thickness, density, water vapor permeability, solubility, and swelling rate of pure starch film was increased upon incorporation of allspice extract into the starch matrix. The inhibition zones of the films incorporated with 5% allspice extract against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis were 17.7 and 14.7 mm respectively indicating a good antibacterial efficacy. This study demonstrates that starch films enriched with allspice extract offer a natural substitute for plastic packaging materials and have potential for environmentally friendly and functional food packaging applications.
Keywords
Supporting Institution
Selçuk University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Office
Project Number
23201079
Ethical Statement
The study is compiled with research and publication ethics.
Thanks
The authors would like to thank to Selçuk University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Office for supporting this study (Project Number: 23201079).
References
- W. H. Organization. "Food safety." World Health Organization. Accessed: Nov. 21, 2025. [Online.] Available: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/food-safety
- B. Wohner, E. Pauer, V. Heinrich, and M. Tacker, "Packaging-related food losses and waste: an overview of drivers and issues," Sustain., vol. 11, no. 1, p. 264, 2019.
- J. W. Han, L. Ruiz‐Garcia, J. P. Qian, and X. T. Yang, "Food packaging: A comprehensive review and future trends," Compr. Rev. Food Sci. Food Saf., vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 860-877, 2018.
- M. Niaounakis, Biopolymers: applications and trends. William Andrew, 2015.
- A. Jimenez, M. J. Fabra, P. Talens, and A. Chiralt, "Edible and biodegradable starch films: a review," Food Bioprocess Technol., vol. 5, pp. 2058-2076, 2012.
- Y. Miyajima, H. Kikuzaki, M. Hisamoto, and N. Nakatani, "Antioxidative polyphenols from berries of Pimenta dioica," BioFactors, vol. 22, no. 1‐4, pp. 301-303, 2004.
- E. Coppo and A. Marchese, "Antibacterial activity of polyphenols," Curr. Pharm. Biotechnol., vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 380-390, 2014.
- R. Kaur, S. Uppal, and P. Sharma, "Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of sugarcane bagasse lignin and chemically modified lignins," Sugar Tech., vol. 19, no. 6, pp. 675-680, 2017.
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Physical Properties of Materials
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
June 30, 2026
Submission Date
December 5, 2025
Acceptance Date
March 27, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 15 Number: 2
APA
Kalemtaş, G., Ulkerim, A., & Cataltas, G. D. (2026). Production and Characterization of Starch Films Incorporated with Allspice Extract: Physical, Structural and Antibacterial Properties. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, 15(2), 813-825. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1836346
AMA
1.Kalemtaş G, Ulkerim A, Cataltas GD. Production and Characterization of Starch Films Incorporated with Allspice Extract: Physical, Structural and Antibacterial Properties. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026;15(2):813-825. doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1836346
Chicago
Kalemtaş, Gülsüm, Aysima Ulkerim, and Gozde Duriye Cataltas. 2026. “Production and Characterization of Starch Films Incorporated With Allspice Extract: Physical, Structural and Antibacterial Properties”. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 15 (2): 813-25. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1836346.
EndNote
Kalemtaş G, Ulkerim A, Cataltas GD (June 1, 2026) Production and Characterization of Starch Films Incorporated with Allspice Extract: Physical, Structural and Antibacterial Properties. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 15 2 813–825.
IEEE
[1]G. Kalemtaş, A. Ulkerim, and G. D. Cataltas, “Production and Characterization of Starch Films Incorporated with Allspice Extract: Physical, Structural and Antibacterial Properties”, Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 813–825, June 2026, doi: 10.17798/bitlisfen.1836346.
ISNAD
Kalemtaş, Gülsüm - Ulkerim, Aysima - Cataltas, Gozde Duriye. “Production and Characterization of Starch Films Incorporated With Allspice Extract: Physical, Structural and Antibacterial Properties”. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 15/2 (June 1, 2026): 813-825. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1836346.
JAMA
1.Kalemtaş G, Ulkerim A, Cataltas GD. Production and Characterization of Starch Films Incorporated with Allspice Extract: Physical, Structural and Antibacterial Properties. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026;15:813–825.
MLA
Kalemtaş, Gülsüm, et al. “Production and Characterization of Starch Films Incorporated With Allspice Extract: Physical, Structural and Antibacterial Properties”. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 15, no. 2, June 2026, pp. 813-25, doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1836346.
Vancouver
1.Gülsüm Kalemtaş, Aysima Ulkerim, Gozde Duriye Cataltas. Production and Characterization of Starch Films Incorporated with Allspice Extract: Physical, Structural and Antibacterial Properties. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026 Jun. 1;15(2):813-25. doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1836346