ACHEMS 2025
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SPLTRAK Abstract Submission
Poster #278
The Examination of Oral Astringency with Edible Film Formulations
Gregory S. Smutzer, Amelia G. Maughan, Zayd Haydar
Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Astringency is defined as a chemosensation that induces puckering, tightening sensations, and/or drying sensations on the tongue and membranes of the oral cavity. Astringency is attributed to high tannin levels that occur in unripened fruit, cranberries, and some red wines. Oral astringency is generally analyzed by adding phenolic compounds such as tannic acid or salts such as aluminum sulfate (alum) to aqueous solutions. In this study, tannic acid was incorporated within rapidly dissolving edible films to assess astringency. Edible films that contained either 2 or 4 micromoles of tannic acid were prepared by adding plasticizers to the film solution, sonicating the film solution, and drying the solution at room temperature. The general Labeled Magnitude Scale was used to measure overall (side taste) intensities and dryness/puckering intensities. Maximal intensities for both amounts of tannic acid occurred 30 seconds after the films dissolved, and peak intensities were in the moderate range. The most commonly reported side tastes were bitter, sour, or no discernible taste. Mean hedonic scores obtained from a bipolar hedonics scale were in the moderately dislike range. Average dryness/puckering intensities were in the weak range for tannic acid films that contained 2 micromoles, and in the moderate range for 4 micromole films. Tannic acid-salivary protein interactions, and the precipitation of these complexes may cause oral astringency. To test this hypothesis, egg albumin was added to tannic acid films. This additive resulted in a small decrease in mean intensities and a delay in reaching maximal intensities. In summary, edible films are useful for identifying astringency in the absence of water, and provide an improved delivery method for measuring astringency and its causes in the oral cavity.