Natural bioactive starch film from Amazon turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)

It is evermore imperative to develop green processes and products due to the environmental and health problems facing modern society. Thus, the aims of this study were as follows: to use HPLC-MS to identify and quantify the phenolic compounds in Amazon Curcuma longa L. starch; to develop a bioactive starch film and to characterise its phenolic compounds (HPLC-MS) and antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS and ORAC), as well its thickness and granular structure (SEM), mechanical (tensile strength and elongation at break) and colour (CIE-lab scale: L*, a*, b*) properties. HPLC-MS revealed eight major phenolic compounds in the C. longa starch and six in its film. The starch and the film from C. longa had high levels of antioxidant capacity, 65-92% (as measured by DPPH and ABTS). Furthermore, C. longa exhibited a smooth structural surface and strong resistance to tensile force, as well as maintaining its elasticity as measured by mechanical assays (tensile strength and elongation at break). Based on the obtained results a novel biodegradable starch film was obtained applying a single matrix, the Amazon Curcuma longa L. starch.