Fungal growth in table grapes (Vitis vinifera cv. beauty seedless) is triggered by Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium sp., Aspergillus sp., and Rhizopus stolonifera during post-harvest storage. Due to the safety aspects, this research aimed to develop antifungal packaging embedded with essential oils (EOs) to alleviate the fungal decay of table grapes (TG). The various levels of EOs (0.5–5%, v/v) from clove, cinnamon, thyme, peppermint, lemon, bergamot, ginger, spearmint, and lemongrass were tested against Aspergillus sp. The results attained in radial growth, disk diffusion method, minimal inhibitory concentration, and minimal fungicidal concentration revealed that 1% clove essential oil (CEO) showed higher efficacy against Aspergillus sp. compared to the untreated control and other treatments. CEO at the 1% level exhibited a pleasant odor intensity in TG than the other EOs. The active polyvinyl alcohol (7% PVA) film with 1% CEO resulted in lower weight loss, disease severity, and TG berry drop than the control and other treated samples. Additionally, the acceptance score in the TG sample wrapped with a PVA film containing 1% CEO was augmented. Therefore, the PVA film with 1% CEO retarded the fungal growth and prolonged the shelf life of TG during storage of 21 days at 13 °C and 75% relative humidity (RH).

Chitosan is a biopolymer known for its rapid biodegradability and film-forming properties. This research aimed to synthesize and characterize chitosan films loaded with cashew leaf extract (CLE) obtained from immature and mature cashew leaves via aqueous and 70% ethanolic extraction methods. Freeze-dried CLE samples were dissolved in 50% dimethyl sulfoxide for in vitro analysis and chitosan film preparation. The total phenolic content of mature cashew leaves extracted in ethanol (MECLE) showed higher free radicle scavenging activity by a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay than the other extracts (p < 0.05). MECLE displayed a lower minimal inhibitory concentration, minimum fungal concentration, and higher zone of inhibition against Aspergillus niger compared to the other treatments (p < 0.05). Film-forming solutions were prepared using 2% chitosan, 2% chitosan with 5% mature cashew leaves extracted in deionized water (MACLE) (w/v), and 2% chitosan with 5% MECLE (w/v), respectively, to cast films. Of these, 2% chitosan (CH) with 5% MECLE (CH-MECLE-5) displayed the highest thickness and water vapor transmission rate, water vapor permeability, and oxygen transmission rate when compared to other film samples (p < 0.05). The CH-MECLE-5 film showed the highest inhibition zone of A. niger compared to the control and treated films (p < 0.05). The lightness (L*) of the CH-MECLE-5 film decreased with increment in b* values, which represented the yellow color of the film. In addition, two-photon microscopy revealed a uniform distribution via the auto-fluorescent 3D structure of MECLE in the CH-MECLE-5 film. Therefore, chitosan combined with 5% MECLE may be a potential bioactive and eco-friendly packaging film.