Abstract
For climacteric fruits like kiwifruit, postharvest deterioration presents a serious problem with storage and marketability. In this study, the effectiveness of an edible coating made of peppermint essential oil (Es) and Aloe vera gel (ALVG) in maintaining the quality and prolonging the shelf life of “Hayward” kiwifruit kept in cold storage for three months was examined. Treatments were applied in various concentrations (25% and 50% ALVG with 0, 500, and 1000 ppm Es), and quality parameters were evaluated at monthly intervals. The coating significantly reduced weight loss (by 41%) and fruit spoilage (by 65%), and microbial content particularly at ALVG 50%-Es1000 ppm. Additionally, it enhanced physicochemical characteristics such vitamin C retention, titratable acidity (TA), pH, and total soluble solids (TSS). Moreover, it improved antioxidant-related metrics, including phenolic and flavonoid concentrations, catalase activity, and total protein levels, while diminishing oxidative stress indicators such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The findings indicate that an edible coating infused with ALVG and peppermint essential oil provides an effective, natural method to improve postharvest quality and prolong storage life in kiwifruit.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The data used in this study is openly available, and the data used are available upon request from the corresponding authors.
References
Lin, M. et al. Eco-friendly managements and molecular mechanisms for improving postharvest quality and extending shelf life of kiwifruit: A review. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 257, 128450 (2024).
Li, X., Zeng, S., Liu, J., Wang, Y. & Sui, Y. Introduction and multiplex management strategies of postharvest fungal diseases of kiwifruit: A review. Biolog Control. 176, 105096 (2022).
Liu, N., Chen, Y., Yang, C., Zhang, P. & Xie, G. Ripening and ethylene production affected by 1-MCP in different parts of Kiwifruit during postharvest storage. Int. J. Food Prop. 24, 1011–1021 (2021).
Ju, J. et al. Application of essential oil as a sustained release Preparation in food packaging. Trends Food Sci. Technol. 92, 22–32 (2019).
Ali, S. et al. Aloe Vera gel coating delays postharvest Browning and maintains quality of harvested Litchi fruit. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 157, 110960 (2019).
Ali, S. et al. Effect of pre-storage ascorbic acid and Aloe Vera gel coating application on enzymatic Browning and quality of Lotus root slices. J. Food Biochem. 44, e13136 (2020).
Mendy, T. K., Misran, A., Mahmud, T. M. M. & Ismail, S. I. Antifungal properties of Aloe Vera through in vitro and in vivo screening against postharvest pathogens of Papaya fruit. Sci. Hortic. 257, 108767 (2019).
Pimsorn, O., Kramchote, S. & Suwor, P. Effects of Aloe Vera gel coating on quality and shelf life of lime (Citrus aurantifolia) fruit during ambient storage. Hort J. 91, 416–423 (2022).
Yazdani, M. Evaluation of antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of essential oil of Mentha Piperita L. Iran. J. Med. Microbiol. 13 (3), 210–219 (2019).
Shahdadi, F., Behrouz, A., Ranjbarinasab, Z. & Seyedi, A. Enhancing strawberry storage life with Aloe Vera gel edible coating enriched with Rosemary essential oil. Sci. Rep. 15 (1), 33237 (2025).
Qu, T. et al. Effect of peppermint oil on the storage quality of white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus). Food Bioproc Tech. 13, 404–418 (2020).
Bashir, O. et al. Development, characterization and use of Rosemary essential oil loaded water-chestnut starch based nano emulsion coatings for enhancing post-harvest quality of apples var. Golden delicious. Curr. Res. Food Sci. 7, 100570 (2023).
Nejad Sajjadi, S. S., Mansouri Najand, L. & &Shahdadi, F. Effects of Aloe Vera gel based active coating functionalized with lemon Peel essential oil on shelf life and quality attributes of cheese. J. Agri Sci. Tech. 26 (6), 1303–1316 (2024).
Martinez-Romero, D. et al. Rosehip oil added to Aloe Vera gel as postharvest coating of ‘Songría’ plums and ‘President’ prunes. Acta Hortic. 1194 (4), 321–325 (2018).
Shahdadi, F., Seyedi, A. & Fathi, S. Effect of Aloe Vera gel and lemon (Citrus aurantifolia) Peel essential oil on qualitative characteristics of apricot (Prunus armeniaca) fruit during storage. J. Innov. Food Sci. Technol. 16, 163–176 (2024).
Dong, F. & Wang, X. Guar gum and ginseng extract coatings maintain the quality of sweet Cherry. Lwt 89, 117–122 (2018).
Vargas, M., Albors, A., Chiralt, A. & González-Martínez, C. Quality of cold-stored strawberries as affected by chitosan–oleic acid edible coatings. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 41, 164–171 (2006).
Noshirvani, N., Alimari, I. & Mantashloo, H. Impact of carboxymethyl cellulose coating embedded with oregano and Rosemary essential oils to improve the post-harvest quality of fresh strawberries. J. Food Measur Charact. 17, 5440–5454 (2023).
Seyedi, A. & Afsharipour, S. Evaluation of some morphological, biochemical and antioxidant properties of some Mandarin cultivars. Res. Pomolog. 4, 29–42 (2019).
Soland, S. F. & Laima, S. K. Phenolics and cold tolerance of Brassica Napus. Plant. Agri. 1, 1–5 (1999).
Chang, C. C., Yang, M. H., Wen, H. M. & Chern, J. C. Estimation of total flavonoid content in propolis by two complementary colorimetric methods. J. Food Drug Anal. 10, 178–182 (2002).
Tirani, M. M. & Haghjou, M. M. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), total antioxidant capacity (AOC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) make a triangle in evaluation of zinc stress extension. J. Anim. Plant. Sci. 29, 1100–1111 (2019).
Xu, F. et al. Effectiveness of lysozyme coatings and 1-MCP treatments on storage and preservation of Kiwifruit. Food Chem. 288, 201–207 (2019).
Carillo, P., Gibon, Y. & Protocol Extraction and determination of proline. PrometheusWiki 1–5 (2011). (2011).
Bradford, M. M. A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding. Anal. Biochem. 72, 248–254 (1976).
Cao, S., Hu, Z. & Pang, B. Optimization of postharvest ultrasonic treatment of strawberry fruit. Postharvest Biolog Technol. 55 (3), 150–153 (2010).
Ul Hasan, M. et al. Postharvest Aloe Vera gel coating application maintains the quality of harvested green chilies during cold storage. J. Food Biochem. 45, e13682 (2021).
Lufu, R., Ambaw, A. & Opara, U. L. Water loss of fresh fruit: influencing pre-harvest, harvest and postharvest factors. Sci. Hortic. 272, 109519 (2020).
Baskar, C., Nesakumar, N., Kesavan, S., Rayappan, J. B. B. & Alwarappan, S. ATR-FTIR as a versatile analytical tool for the rapid determination of storage life of fresh agaricus bisporus via its moisture content. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 154, 159–168 (2019).
Darwish, O. S. et al. Pre-harvest application of Salicylic acid, abscisic acid, and Methyl jasmonate conserve bioactive compounds of strawberry fruits during refrigerated storage. Hortic 7, 568 (2021).
Khaliq, G., Ramzan, M. & Baloch, A. H. Effect of Aloe Vera gel coating enriched with fagonia indica plant extract on physicochemical and antioxidant activity of Sapodilla fruit during postharvest storage. Food Chem. 286, 346–353 (2019).
Rehman, M. A. et al. Postharvest application of Aloe Vera gel improved shelf life and quality of strawberry (Fragaria x Ananassa Duch). Emirates J. Food Agri. 34, 553–562 (2022).
Izadi, A., Dehestani-Ardakani, M., Meftahizadeh, H., Gholamnezhad, J. & Hatami, M. Edible coatings based on Guar gum and peppermint essential oil alter the quality enhancement of Zagh pomegranate arils during the postharvest supply chain. Biomass Conv Bioref. 15, 243–254 (2025).
Hasheminejad, N. & Khodaiyan, F. The effect of clove essential oil loaded Chitosan nanoparticles on the shelf life and quality of pomegranate arils. Food Chem. 309, 125520 (2020).
Xylia, P., Botsaris, G., Chrysargyris, A., Skandamis, P. & Tzortzakis, N. Variation of microbial load and biochemical activity of ready-to-eat salads in Cyprus as affected by vegetable type, season, and producer. Food Microbiol. 83, 200–210 (2019).
Namiota, M. & Bonikowski, R. The current state of knowledge about essential oil fumigation for quality of crops during postharvest. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 22, 13351 (2021).
Naeem, A., Abbas, T., Ali, T. M. & Hasnain, A. Effect of Guar gum coatings containing essential oils on shelf life and nutritional quality of green-unripe mangoes during low temperature storage. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 113, 403–410 (2018).
Maroufi, L. Y., Tabibiazar, M., Ghorbani, M. & Jahanban-Esfahlan, A. Fabrication and characterization of novel antibacterial chitosan/dialdehyde Guar gum hydrogels containing pomegranate Peel extract for active food packaging application. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 187, 179–188 (2021).
Najmi, Z. et al. Screening of different essential oils based on their physicochemical and Microbiological properties to preserve red fruits and improve their shelf life. Foods 12, 332 (2023).
Veras, F. H. C. et al. Post-harvest conservation of Pioneira banana (Musa spp.) using babaçu coconut oil. Revista Ciência Agrícola. 18, 1–9 (2020).
dos Braga, P. Characterization of edible coatings formulated with Chitosan and Mentha essential oils and their use to preserve Papaya (Carica Papaya L). Innovative Food Sci. Emerg. Technol. 65, 102472 (2020).
Ziedan, E. S. H., Zahaby, E., Maswada, H. M. & Zoeir, H. A. H. F. Agar-agar a promising edible coating agent for management of postharvest diseases and improving banana fruit quality. J. Plant. Prot. Res. 58, 234–240 (2018).
Pamungkas, A., Siregar, Z. A., Sedayu, B. B., Fauzi, A. & Novianto, T. D. A carrageenan-based edible coating incorporating with peppermint essential oils to increase shelf life of bananas (Musa acuminata cavendish). J. Ilmiah Rekayasa Pertanian Biosist. 11, 232–245 (2023).
Giannakourou, M. C. & Tsironi, T. N. Application of processing and packaging hurdles for fresh-cut fruits and vegetables preservation. Foods 10, 830 (2021).
Rab, A. Aloe Vera gel coating retains persimmon fruit (Diospyros kaki) quality during storage at room temperature. Sarhad J. Agri. 36, 1094–1102 (2020).
Jan, I., Rab, A. & Sajid, M. Influence of calcium chloride on storability and quality of Apple fruits. Pak. J. Agric. Sci. 52, 115–122 (2015).
Duarte, L. G. R., Ferreira, N. C. A., Fiocco, A. C. T. R. & Picone, C. S. F. Lactoferrin-chitosan-TPP nanoparticles: Antibacterial action and extension of strawberry shelf-life. Food Bioproc. Tech. 16, 135–148 (2023).
Chen, H., Lin, H., Jiang, X., Lin, M. & Fan, Z. Amelioration of chilling injury and enhancement of quality maintenance in cold-stored guava fruit by melatonin treatment. Food Chem. X. 14, 100297 (2022).
Elmenofy, H. M., Tolba, N. M. & Salama, A. M. Maintain the quality of winter guava (Psidium Guajava L.) fruits by Post-Harvest application of melatonin and Methyl jasmonate under Vacuum-Packaged and Low-Temperature storage. J. Sustain. Agri Sci. 50, 47–68 (2024).
Gao, Y. et al. Quality and biochemical changes of navel orange fruits during storage as affected by cinnamaldehyde-chitosan coating. Scint Hortic. 239, 80–86 (2018).
Murmu, S. B. & Mishra, H. N. The effect of edible coating based on Arabic gum, sodium caseinate and essential oil of cinnamon and lemon grass on guava. Food Chem. 245, 820–828 (2018).
Hui, L. et al. Postharvest short-time partial dehydration extends shelf-life and improves the quality of Actinidia Arguta during low temperature storage. J. Future Foods. 5, 200–207 (2025).
Saleem, M. S. et al. Aloe Vera gel coating delays softening and maintains quality of stored persimmon (Diospyros Kaki Thunb.) fruits. J. Food Sci. Technol. 59, 3296–3306 (2022).
Hasan, M. U. et al. Potential of Aloe Vera gel coating for storage life extension and quality conservation of fruits and vegetables: an overview. J. Food Biochem. 45, e13640 (2021).
Al-Khayri, J. M. & Khedr, E. H. Augmenting apricot fruit quality and prolonging storage life via modulating ethylene metabolism and antioxidants with 1-(3-phenyl-propyl) cyclopropene and psyllium treatments. J. Hort Sci. Biotech. 99 (6), 696–712 (2024).
Shang, H., Cao, S., Yang, Z., Cai, Y. & Zheng, Y. Effect of exogenous γ-aminobutyric acid treatment on proline accumulation and chilling injury in Peach fruit after long-term cold storage. J. Agric. Food Chem. 59, 1264–1268 (2011).
Wang, J. et al. Oxalic acid pretreatment reduces chilling injury in Hami melons (Cucumis Melo var. Reticulatus Naud.) by regulating enzymes involved in antioxidative pathways. Sci. Hort. 241, 201–208 (2018).
Zulfiqar, F. & Ashraf, M. Proline alleviates abiotic stress induced oxidative stress in plants. J. Plant. Growth Regul. 42, 4629–4651 (2023).
Sharma, P., Jha, A. B., Dubey, R. S. & Pessarakli, M. Reactive oxygen species, oxidative damage, and antioxidative defense mechanism in plants under stressful conditions. J. Bot. 7, 1–26 (2012).
Salzano, A. M. et al. Unveiling Kiwifruit metabolite and protein changes in the course of postharvest cold storage. Front. Plant. Sci. 10, 71 (2019).
Magri, A., Landi, N., Capriolo, G., Di Maro, A. & Petriccione, M. Effect of active layer-by-layer edible coating on quality, biochemicals, and the antioxidant system in ready-to-eat ‘Williams’ Pear fruit during cold storage. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 212, 112873 (2024).
Chelu, M. et al. amp; Antibacterial Aloe vera based biocompatible hydrogel for use in dermatological applications. Int.l J. Molecul. Sci. 24(4), 3893. (2023).
Rahchamani, R., Bayat Kouhsar, J. & Noori, S. The antimicrobial activity of peppermint (Mentha piperita) and Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) essential oil on three mastitis-causing pathogens in milk. Iran. J. Veteri Sci. Technol. 15 (4), 29–36 (2023).
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the University of Jiroft.
A small portion of the laboratory costs of this article were funded by a grant from the first author (Grant Number: 2826-03-01-316226).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
A.S. was responsible for conceptualizing and designing the experiments, laying the foundation for the research. A.K. handled the practical execution of the experiments, ensuring they were carried out according to the planned design. S.A. conducted the data analysis, interpreting the results and deriving key insights. The drafting and proofreading of the main manuscript were performed by S.A. and F.S., who collaborated to ensure clarity and accuracy. All authors reviewed the final manuscript and approved it for publication, indicating their agreement with the content and findings presented in the study.
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Compliance with ethical standards
This article does not contain any studies involving animals or human participants as research subjects.
Consent for publication
All authors approved this manuscript before submission.
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which permits any non-commercial use, sharing, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if you modified the licensed material. You do not have permission under this licence to share adapted material derived from this article or parts of it. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.
About this article
Cite this article
Seyedi, A., Shahdadi, F., Khajehbahrami, A. et al. The effect of the composite of Aloe vera gel and peppermint essential oil as natural coatings on the postharvest characteristics of kiwifruits. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-37376-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-37376-3
