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With the rapid development of the active and intelligent packaging industry, plant-derived sensing elements (PDSEs) have emerged as an ideal alternative to traditional synthetic sensing materials, thanks to their green sustainability, low cost, and excellent biocompatibility. In this paper, PDSEs are defined as sensing systems in which at least one key recognition or signal-response unit is directly derived from plant materials or plant expression systems, with the remaining non-plant components primarily serving structural support or signal-amplification functions. In recent years, the potential of PDSEs for food packaging applications has been continuously explored, and they have become a research hotspot due to their superior performance and environmental advantages. For instance, indicator films based on red cabbage anthocyanins can monitor the freshness of fish meat in real time through color changes; curcumin-modified hydrogels enable the fluorescent detection of biogenic amines; and plant esterase sensors can be used for the trace analysis of pesticide residues. Given the enormous application value of PDSEs in intelligent packaging systems, this paper first elaborates on the working principles of plant-derived sensors (PDSs) and illustrates this complex process using schematic diagrams, providing important guidance for the development of sensors with advanced functions. Meanwhile, a summary of the types of PDSs is presented. On this basis, the integration strategies of active food systems with PDSs are highlighted, which have great guiding significance for realizing "real-time visualization" of food safety and quality and for leading the innovation of next-generation packaging materials. Furthermore, the applications of PDSs in active food packaging are summarized and discussed. Finally, the advantages and challenges of PDSs in active food packaging systems are analyzed. In general, the information contained in this paper will provide important guidance for the research, development, and innovation of next-generation intelligent food packaging materials. This technology is not only a revolution in the packaging field, but also a key link in constructing a safer, more intelligent and more sustainable food system for the future.
Li et al. (Mon,) studied this question.