The Antifungal and Antiviral Activity of Coatings Containing Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Verbascum L. or Formitopsis betulina Extracts and Their Influence on the Quality of Strawberries after Storage

Abstract

The goal of this study was to analyze the antifungal and antiviral activity of coatings based on Formitopsis betulina, Verbascum L. and Uncaria tomentosa extracts with ZnO nanoparticles as active compounds. The other purpose was to investigate the impact of polypropylene bags coated with the obtained antiviral/antifungal coatings on the microbial quality/purity of strawberries. The results of this study showed that the analyzed coatings inhibited Candida albicans growth completely. They did not inhibit the growth of Fusarium oxysporum, but they decreased its number. Additionally, all layers demonstrated a high activity against the Φ 6 bacteriophage particles. Analyzing the microbial purity of the strawberries after storage, it was noticed that the modified bags with Verbascum L. (ZnVL) and F. betulina (ZnFb) extracts and the addition of the nano ZnO had a significant effect on the decrease of the total count and on the number of yeast and mold. After 144 h of storage of the strawberries, the ZnVL coating was found to be more effective than the ZnFb layer. However, after 216 h of storage, ZnVL was more active against yeast and mold, but the packaging covered with the ZnFb coating was more effective against bacteria.