Ensuring high-quality agricultural products has become important in agriculture since society’s standard of living has risen. Meanwhile, Moringa oleifera L. leaf extract (MLE) has been used as a plant biostimulant to improve product quality. The effectiveness of MLE is associated with its beneficial components, consisting of nutrients, phytohormones, secondary metabolites, amino acids, and bioactive compounds. Previous studies have been carried out to find the effects of MLE application on the quality of different crops, including basil, kale, spinach, maize, radish, brinjal, pepper, tomato, grape, strawberry, and more. The results are generally positive concerning physical, nutritional, and chemical qualities. This review comprises recent findings regarding MLE application as a plant biostimulant to increase quality attributes, with its underlying mechanism.

Corn starch var. Paragon from Indonesia and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were used to develop bionanocomposite film containing different types of plasticizers [glycerol (G) or sorbitol (S)] incorporated with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) (0, 3, 5 wt.%)viacasting method. The main objective of this study was to improve the properties of the bionanocomposite film with incorporated different types of plasticizers and ZnO NPs. The physicochemical properties of the film were systematically characterized. The results showed that the incorporation of sorbitol could significantly enhance the value of tensile strength, elongation, and Young's modulus than glycerol. In general, a higher concentration of ZnO NPs in the film could increase the tensile strength, reduce the water vapor permeability, decrease the water solubility, and influence the morphology, crystallinity, functional groups, and thermal stability of the films. The data showed that corn starch bionanocomposite film containing sorbitol with 5 wt% ZnO NPs was the most optimal film as compared to other formulations as the solubility and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) value significantly reduced, and also it increased the value of tensile strength, elongation, and Young's modulus. It can be concluded that the incorporation of glycerol or sorbitol plasticizers reinforced by ZnO NPs plays an important role in improving the properties of bionanocomposite film, hence the film has the potency to be used as sustainable and environmental friendly packaging.

A single-use of the corn starch-based bionanocomposite film has several weaknesses, such as stiffness, ease of brittleness, and low moisture barrier properties. The addition of plasticizers and nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) is expected to increase packaging properties. This study used corn starch var. Paragon from Indonesia as a raw material to produce the strong film. The study aimed to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of the bionanocomposite film based on corn starch with the addition of different plasticizers (glycerol (MW = 92.094 g/mol)/sorbitol (MW = (182.17 g/mol)) and different concentrations of NCC (0, 3, 5 wt.%). The result showed that the sorbitol plasticized film reinforced by 5 wt.% NCC was the most effective to improve the properties with the thickness 0.256 mm; the color values L*, a*, and b* 97.43, −0.04, 1.85, respectively; the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) 2.259 g/m² h; the water solubility 30.73%; tensile strength 4.69 MPa; elongation at break 56%; and young’s modulus 0.084 MPa. This treatment significantly reduced the film’s brittleness and water solubility while increasing its flexibility, tensile strength, elongation, young’s modulus, and resistance to water vapor transmission. Plasticizers more markedly affected the elongation properties of the films. However, NCC more significantly affected the tensile strength and WVTR films. In conclusion, this provides a great opportunity for the development of bionanocomposite films as biodegradable packaging in the future.