Enhancement of Antioxidant Property of N-Carboxymethyl Chitosan and Its Application in Strawberry Preservation

Bio-enzymatic grafting phenolic acid to chitosan derivative is an efficient and environmentally friendly molecular synthesis technology. In the present study, N-carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) was grafted with gallic acid (GA) using recombinant bacterial laccase from Streptomyces coelicolor as a catalyst. GA and CMCS were successfully grafted as determined by measuring amino acid content, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. Then, the effect of GA-g-CMCS coating on the freshness of strawberries at 20 ± 2 °C was explored. The physiological and biochemical quality indicators of strawberries during storage were monitored. The 1.5% GA-g-CMCS coating helped to protect the antioxidant properties and nutrients of strawberries and extend the shelf life. Specifically, it reduced the weight loss of strawberries during preservation (originally 12.7%) to 8.4%, maintained titratable acidity content (TA) residuals above 60% and reduced decay rate from 36.7% to 8.9%. As a bioactive compound, GA-g-CMCS has the potential to become an emerging food packing method. These results provide a theoretical basis and reference method for the subsequent synthesis and application of CMCS derivatives.