Alcayota Gum Films: Experimental Reviews

Polysaccharides obtained from plants have been investigated for the development of edible/biodegradable non-petrochemical-based packaging materials. Alcayota (Curcubita ficifolia) is the fruit of a creeping plant such as watermelon and melon. 

After separating the pulp from the husk and seeds, it is dried and ground to obtain flour. Alkaline hydrolysis is deployed to the extract alcayota's gum and is purified by hydroalcoholic solutions. The films were prepared from an aqueous solution of hydrolyzed alcayota gum (AlcOH). 

The films were modified using glutaraldehyde (Glu) to improve water resistance to make the water-insoluble film. The crosslinked films provide a low water vapor permeability (WVP) and high mechanical properties expressed in elastic modulus. The X-ray diffraction showed to be amorphous with lower spacing, i.e., at lower distances between the polysaccharide chains. These crosslinked membranes exhibit excellent water resistance and low oxygen permeation, making them very useful for biodegradable polymers and films.

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