Development of active packaging film reinforced with nano cellulose extracted from Palmyra palm (Borassus flabellifer) residues for prolonging the shelf life of chicken meat.

This article focuses on the development and evaluation of an active biodegradable packaging film reinforced with nanocellulose extracted from Palmyra palm (Borassus flabellifer) husk and incorporated with neem oil to enhance the shelf life of chicken meat. The film, composed of arrowroot starch, glycerol, nanocellulose, and neem oil, demonstrated improved mechanical strength, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial properties compared to pure starch films. Application tests showed that chicken meat wrapped in the active film exhibited reduced weight loss, lower pH increase, decreased lipid oxidation (peroxide value), and inhibited microbial growth during refrigerated storage, thereby extending its freshness up to 12 days versus 6 days for control films. The study attributes these effects primarily to the bioactive phenolic compounds, such as azadirachtin, present in neem oil, which provide antioxidant and antibacterial functions.