Cactus Mucilage for Food Packaging Applications
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The authors explain a review about the application of Cactus mucilage as biopolymers in the field of food packaging.
The English language should be checked.
Table 1: Put in order the raw materials. First all the Clododes Opuntia ficus indica, then the Clododes Opuntia dillenii haw and the Cladodes Cereus triangularis. Then insert Pulp, Fruit pulp and Fruit peels.
Line 261: Write Listeria monocytogenes. Bacterial genera must be written in italics.
Insert a chapter dedicated to Cactus mucilage antibacterial activity against food pathogens and spoilage bacteria. The antibacterial activity of Cactus mucilage used as a coating material is an important feature to extend food shelf-life.
Author Response
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Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
In Manuscript_Coatings 607747, authors have reviewed cactus mucilage-based edible-films and coating materials for food packaging applications. The concept and design of the review is timely and well organized. The information on extraction methods and properties, fabrication of films, and preparation of coating materials are precisely reviewed in tabulated form. Further, publication history analysis during 2005-2019 based on cactus mucilage has been provided. In my opinion, this review article is suitable for publication in ‘Coatings’ journal. However, some critical points to be resolved before acceptance:
In Abstract, ‘organ’ term is little confusive in the sentence “plant species or the organ used for extraction”. It may be as, “plant organ” or separately as “organism”. Please re-word as necessary for clear information. In introduction section, in lines 93-95, please provide the some information for the significance of carbohydrates/polysaccharides for diverse applications, especially cactus mucilage, so that wide scientific community may have better insight of carbohydrates/polysaccharides. For example, food, food packaging, drug delivery, tissue engineering, etc., and then discuss the Cactus as one of them for this review. Authors may refer the following articles for this purpose, for example: Carbohydrate Polymers, 180, 2018, 128-144; Carbohydrate Polymers, 88(4), 2012, 1364-1372; Journal of Materials Physics and Chemistry, 2(1), 2014, 1-8; Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 188, 2018, 116-125; Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering, 56(9), 2017, 983-991, etc. For Fig. 1, authors should provide the source of this survey for published articles.Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
This article is a comprehensive, well written and structured contribution to the evaluation of cactus mucilage as food packing material. In my opinion, it deserves publication in Coatings after minor revision.
The introduction is mostly centered on the need for edible films and coatings to preserve food and some examples of biopolymers used are provided, but I think the section is too general and it should be more specific for a review focused on cactus mucilage. I am aware that the already published information will be analyzed later in the main text but some outlines should be provided as introductory motivation for the use of cactus mucilage. For instance, an evaluation of availability, the economic viability, the inherent advantages of this material vs others being used and milestones achieved.
Minor corrections are: please, clarify the MW entry in table 1. I dont quite understand the figures/units provided for molecular weights (MW 8.4 106?). "PH" should be "pH" in line 141. Please define "%E" in line 172. What is "jus" in line 259?.
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
All the reviewer request have been met.
