Desenvolvimento de filme ativo incorporado com extratos de lúpulo

With the increasing demand from consumers for healthier products, there has been a growing interest in food preservation methods that do not involve synthetic additives. In this context, active packaging has gained prominence by offering longer shelf life and food safety through the use of natural additives. This study aimed to obtain extracts of Cascade hops using two different methodologies, evaluate the antimicrobial activity of these extracts, and incorporate them into a cellulose acetate matrix, analyzing their physical characteristics and antimicrobial activity. The produced films were characterized in terms of thickness, color, transparency, and opacity, and were tested in vitro against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The extracts were obtained through ultrasonic bath extraction with methanol (EM extract) and water extraction (EA extract), and were subsequently incorporated into a cellulose acetate (polymer) and acetone (solvent) dispersion at concentrations of 0, 10, and 20%. Although there was no significant difference in the thickness of the films, variations were observed in color, transparency, and opacity, as expected due to the different extraction methods. The active films containing the alcoholic extract (EM) demonstrated antimicrobial activity against the Gram-positive bacterium S. aureus, while the aqueous extract (EA) at the studied concentrations showed no detectable activity.