ArticlePlant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)2026
Characterization of Films Based on Opuntia ficus-indica and Pectin.
Article in Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Plastic packaging is widely used in the food industry, but its persistence in the environment for centuries has driven interest in biodegradable alternatives. This study aimed to develop a biodegradable film using freeze-dried Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes in powder form (OFICP) (2 g), glycerol (30%, w/w), and varying amounts of commercial pectin: 0.5 g (F1), 1.0 g (F2), 1.5 g (F3), and 2.0 g (F4). The influence of pectin content on the films' mechanical, thermal, structural, color, and water-related properties was systematically evaluated, alongside their biodegradability in soil and simulated marine environments. Formulations containing higher amounts of pectin exhibited enhanced mechanical performance, including a 232% increase in tensile strength from F1 (2.62) to F3 (8.69), as well as improved thermal stability. Due to the hydrophilic nature of both pectin and OFICP, the films showed low contact angles (30.29-39.39°) and high moisture content (25.11-35.98%). Considering their hydrophilic nature and water-related properties, the films may be more suitable for applications involving low-moisture food products; however, further studies under different storage and environmental conditions are needed to confirm their suitability. Moreover, under experimental conditions, the films showed progressive visual disintegration in soil, with F1 and F2 exhibiting substantial disintegration by day 12 and all formulations becoming almost completely disintegrated by day 28. Thus, these findings suggest that blending OFICP with commercial pectin produces films with improved properties, with potential applications in food packaging. Furthermore, valorizing Opuntia ficus-indica byproducts provides an environmentally responsible approach to agricultural waste management while supporting the development of next-generation bio-based materials for food packaging.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.