Effect of moisture content, storage temperature and storage period on colour, ascorbic acid, lycopene and total flavonoids of dried tomato halves

Dried tomato halves with three storage moisture contents [18%, 24% and 30%, wet basis (wb)], packed in glass jar, plastic container and polyethylene bag were stored in room and cool-chamber environments for 5 months. During storage period average room and cool-chamber temperatures were 20 ± 4 and 5 ± 1 °C respectively. Changes of colour, ascorbic acid, lycopene, total flavonoids and moisture contents were monitored 1-month interval. Significantly higher losses of colour, ascorbic acid, lycopene and total flavonoids were found for room environment than those of cool chamber. A set of regression equations had been developed for colour, ascorbic acid, lycopene and total flavonoids as a function of storage time. No visible microorganisms were detected in the samples during the storage period. Dried tomato with ≤24% (wb) moisture content may be recommended to store in cool chamber (5 °C) and ≤18% (wb) to store in room environment (20 °C) both to be packed in glass jar.     

A comparison of flavonoids,carotenoids and vitamin C in commercial organic and conventional marinara pasta sauce

BACKGROUND: Characterising the levels of key phytochemicals in foods commonly consumed in the Western diet is critical for database development, estimating intake and assessing the potential health benefits associated with the consumption of these products. This paper describes a market‐basket evaluation of the key flavonoids, carotenoids and vitamin C in commercial organic (five brands) and conventional (five brands) marinara pasta sauces. RESULTS: Levels of ascorbic acid ranged from undetected up to 6.87 mg per 100 g fresh weight. The levels of total vitamin C in six of the ten samples were significantly lower than the amount listed on the Nutrition Facts Panel (P < 0.001 or P < 0.01). The contents of total vitamin C, flavonoids and lycopene were not statistically different between organic and conventional samples. Conventional pasta sauces demonstrated a significantly higher level of all‐trans‐β‐carotene (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This suggests that any beneficial differences in levels of flavonoids, carotenoids and vitamin C gained through cultivation practices are not measurable at the consumer level in processed tomato products. Additionally, the results point to a large disparity between the actual vitamin C content of these products and the content listed on the Nutrition Facts Panel. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of growth stage and postharvest storage on ascorbic acid and carotenoid content and visual quality of baby spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)

To investigate the variations in quality with growth stage and postharvest storage, spinach was sown on three occasions. For each occasion, the spinach was harvested at three growth stages at 6‐day intervals. The second stage corresponded to a growth period used for baby spinach by commercial growers. After harvest, the leaves were stored in polypropylene bags at 2 °C or 10 °C. The highest ascorbic acid content in fresh material was found at stage I. During storage, the ascorbic acid content decreased considerably and the dehydroascorbic acid/vitamin C ratio increased. Storage at 2 °C gave a smaller reduction in ascorbic acid content than storage at 10 °C. Total carotenoid content increased or remained stable during storage. Lutein was the major carotenoid, making up about 39% of the total carotenoid content, followed by violaxanthin, β‐carotene and neoxanthin. Visual quality decreased during storage in most cases, and was correlated to initial ascorbic acid and dry matter contents. The initial AA content might therefore be used as a parameter for predicting the shelf‐life of baby spinach. The results also indicate that by harvesting baby spinach a few days earlier than the current commercial stage of harvest the postharvest visual quality and nutritional quality may be improved. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Evaluation of heat and oxidative damage during storage of processed tomato products. II. Study of oxidative damage indices

Tomato products (pulp, puree and paste) submitted to accelerated aging (30, 40 and 50 °C for 3 months) were studied to evaluate variations in the kinetics of the degradation of antioxidants and antioxidant activity. The carotenoids lycopene and β‐carotene, ascorbic acid, rutin and total phenolics were analysed. The antioxidant activity was measured using (a) the xanthine oxidase (XOD)/xanthine system, which generates superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide, and (b) the linoleic acid/CuSO₄ system, which promotes lipid peroxidation. The ascorbic acid content decreased even at 30 °C, following pseudo‐first‐order kinetics, with an activation energy of 105 200 J mol^?1 for tomato pulp and 23 600 J mol^?1 for tomato paste. The lower the initial ascorbic acid content, the higher was the degradation rate. Variations in phenolic compounds occurred at 40 °C and higher, following pseudo‐zero order kinetics. The antioxidant activity of the hydrophilic fraction of the tomato products depended on both antioxidant degradation and the Maillard reaction and could not be described by a kinetic model. The β‐carotene content decreased even at 30 °C, whereas the lycopene content was stable in all samples. The antioxidant activity of the lipophilic fraction of the tomato products decreased following pseudo‐first order kinetics, with an activation energy of 22 200 J mol^?1 for tomato pulp and 20 200 J mol^?1 for tomato paste. It is concluded that significant ‘oxidative damage’ can occur in tomato products during their commercial shelf‐life. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Changes in carotenoids, ascorbic acids, and quality characteristics by the pickling of paprika (Capsicum annuum l.) cultivated in Korea

Paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) is widely used as a healthy vegetable having antitumor-promoting activity and reducing or preventing chronic disease. Paprika has been mostly consumed as fresh fruit, and as food colorants such as oleoresin or pigment powder. In this study, pickled paprika was produced and its quality characteristics were monitored during storage (35 °C for 42 d). Carotenoid composition, ascorbic acid, total phenolic contents, and antioxidant activities were also analyzed. Five carotenoid compounds were identified in the pickled paprika and after 42 d of storage, total carotenoid content was 2.44 ± 0.69 mg/100g fresh weight(fw) and ascorbic acid content was 50.90 ± 3.26 mg/100g dry weight (dw). 2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulphonate (ABTS) radical-scavenging activity of the pickled paprika was maintained above 70% until 28 d of storage, and then decreased to 47% of the initial activity. pH increased from 2.78 ± 0.06 to 3.10 ± 0.03 at 14 d and was then maintained until 42 d. Soluble solids increased gradually and color values including L*, a*, and b* decreased during storage. Hardness also decreased from 6.17 ± 0.18 kg force to 1.90 ± 0.60 kg force during storage. The overall taste of the pickled paprika was deemed to be good until 28 d of storage. Pickled paprika showed a possibility as a new pickled product. We demonstrated that paprika could be processed as a new pickled product with extended storage. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Pickled paprika was produced and its quality characteristics along with phytochemical contents were monitored during storage. Phytochemicals, including ascorbic acid and polyphenols in pickled paprika were considerably retained and visual color was satisfactory during storage. Texture was deemed to be satisfactory for 4 wk. Considering that our experiment was performed at a relatively high temperature and without the addition of calcium for the improvement of texture, our results are quite promising in order to produce new pickled products with extended shelf-life along with conserving nutritional and functional components and satisfying consumer needs.     

Evolution of ascorbic acid and peroxidase during industrial processing of broccoli

The ascorbic acid content and peroxidase activity of raw, canned and frozen (after blanching times of 60, 90, 120 and 150 s) broccoli florets and stems were determined. The ascorbic acid content represented 1.12 and 0.78 g kg⁻¹ fresh weight in raw florets and stems respectively. After blanching (for different times) and freezing, the ascorbic acid content decreased to values of 0.55–0.56 g kg⁻¹ fresh weight in florets and 0.35–0.36 g kg⁻¹ fresh weight in stems. The industrial processing involved in canning decreased the ascorbic acid content to 0.18 g kg⁻¹ fresh weight in florets. The peroxidase activity observed in the florets and stems of raw broccoli was 308.8 and 278.6 µmol min⁻¹ per 100 g fresh weight respectively. The peroxidase activity remaining in frozen florets varied from 0.9 to 0.2%, while that in stems showed values of between 7.5 and 8.4%. These values for stems were within the range recommended for residual activity after blanching and freezing. The peroxidase activity of canned broccoli florets was practically undetectable. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Antioxidant capacity of different fractions of vegetables and correlation with the contents of ascorbic acid, phenolics, and flavonoids

The antioxidant capacity of different fractions of 17 vegetables were analyzed using ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP assay) after water and acetone extractions. The contents of ascorbic acid, phenolics, and flavonoids were determined and their correlations with FRAP value were investigated. The results showed that the peel or leaf fractions of vegetables were stronger than the pulp or stem fractions in antioxidant capacity based on total FRAP value. Lotus root peel was the highest and cucumber pulp the lowest in total FRAP value among the vegetable fractions analyzed. All water extracts were higher in FRAP value than the acetone extracts. The FRAP value was significantly correlated with the contents of ascorbic acid, phenolics, or flavonoids in water extracts, in which the phenolics contributed most based on multivariate regression analysis. We conclude that different vegetable fractions were remarkably different in antioxidant capacity. The phenolics are responsible mostly for the antioxidant capacity of vegetables in vitro.     

加工处理对食品中类胡萝卜素顺反异构化作用的影响

类胡萝卜素是一种重要的植物色素,也是构成人类饮食的一部分。它们主要以全反构型的形式存在,然而,通过处理也可以导致顺式异构体的出现。类胡萝卜素顺式异构体具有不同的生物学特性,如VA原活性降低,生物利用度及抗氧化能力也都发生改变。综述了加工处理对食品中类胡萝卜素反-顺异构化作用的影响。     

Impact of high‐pressure and traditional thermal processing of tomato purée on carotenoids,vitamin C and antioxidant activity

Bioactive compounds (carotenoids and vitamin C) and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH^?) scavenging activity [50% depletion of initial DPPH^? radical (EC₅₀) and antiradical efficiency (AE)], in aqueous (AQ) and organic (OR) fractions, were measured in tomato purée subjected to high‐pressure (HP) (400 MPa/25 °C/15 min), low pasteurisation (LPT) (70 °C/30 s), high pasteurisation (HPT) (90 °C/1 min), freezing (F) (?38 °C/15 min), and HPT plus F (HPT + F). In addition, physical and physicochemical parameters were evaluated. CIELab uniform colour space parameters (lightness, L*; green‐red tonality, a*; and blue‐yellow tonality, b*) were significantly higher both in the untreated and in the HP tomato purée than in the rest of the samples. Individual and total carotenoids, and provitamin A carotenoids, were significantly higher in HP tomato purée than in the untreated and other treated tomato purées. Ascorbic acid and total vitamin C were significantly lower in HP, LPT, HPT, and HPT + F tomato purées than in the untreated and F purées. In the AQ fractions, we found an inverse significant correlation between both ascorbic acid and total vitamin C and EC_50AQ; and a positive significant correlation with AE_AQ. In the OR fractions, a significant correlation was found between EC_50OR and AE_OR parameters and lycopene and total carotenoids. Total scavenging activity (AQ + OR fractions) in HP tomato purée was similar to that in LPT, HPT, and HPT + F purées. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

气体射流冲击干燥对山楂抗坏血酸、还原糖、总酸及总黄酮的影响

为了提高山楂的干制品质,在通过单因素试验探讨不同因素对山楂营养成分影响的基础上,采用风温、风速和喷嘴高度三因素进行二次通用旋转组合设计优化实验。单因素实验表明,不同条件的气体射流冲击干燥对山楂的Vc、还原糖、总酸及总黄酮含量均有不同程度的影响。并且通过三因素的二次通用旋转组合设计优化试验得到了不同的优化方案。其中Vc含量的优化方案为:温度55.8℃,风速11 m/s,喷嘴高度148.0 mm,物料盒宽度130 mm。总酸含量的优化方案为:温度54.9℃,风速11.0 m/s,喷嘴高度137.0 mm,物料盒宽度130mm。还原糖含量的优化方案为:温度54.7℃,风速10.5 m/s,喷嘴高度139.2 mm,物料盒宽度130 mm。     

Effect of pilot-scale aseptic processing on tomato soup quality parameters

Tomatoes are often processed into shelf-stable products. However, the different processing steps might have an impact on the product quality. In this study, a model tomato soup was prepared and the impact of pilot-scale aseptic processing, including heat treatment and high-pressure homogenization, on some selected quality parameters was evaluated. The vitamin C content, the lycopene isomer content, and the lycopene bioaccessibility were considered as health-promoting attributes. As a structural characteristic, the viscosity of the tomato soup was investigated. A tomato soup without oil as well as a tomato soup containing 5% olive oil were evaluated. Thermal processing had a negative effect on the vitamin C content, while lycopene degradation was limited. For both compounds, high-pressure homogenization caused additional losses. High-pressure homogenization also resulted in a higher viscosity that was accompanied by a decrease in lycopene bioaccessibility. The presence of lipids clearly enhanced the lycopene isomerization susceptibility and improved the bioaccessibility. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The results obtained in this study are of relevance for product formulation and process design of tomato-based food products.     

Effects of processing and storage conditions on the stability of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) leaf flavonoids

The effect of heat, high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment, pH, light, temperature and simulated digestion on sweet potato leaf flavonoids (SPLF) stability was studied. Results showed heat treatment at 75 °C for 90 min or HHP treatment at 600 MPa for 30 min did not cause significant effect on SPLF. Heat treatment at 100 °C for 60 min and 90 min led to decrease in antioxidant activity by 20% and 25%, respectively, while pH 7.0 and 8.0 significantly decreased amount of SPLF by approximately 75%, decreased antioxidant activity by about 30% and 47% separately. Light treated samples recorded a decrease in SPLF by 52% and antioxidant activity by 24%. No significant effect on SPLF was observed for samples stored at −18 °C, 4 °C or room temperature. The retention of flavonoids and antioxidant activity was 45.9 ± 3.6% and 56.2 ± 2.6%, individually in SPLF after simulated digestion.     

Analyses of tomato peel and seed byproducts and their use as a source of carotenoids

Commercial tomato canning yields two different byproducts. One is the material that results from peeling tomatoes, while the other results from removing the seeds. The peel byproduct contained 100.8 g protein, 256.4 g ash and 299.4 g acid detergent fiber kg^?1. Ash content was high because the peel byproduct contained 83.8 g kg^?1 sodium as a result of using a sodium hydroxide solution to peel the tomatoes. The seed byproduct contained 202.3 g protein, 51.8 g ash, and 537.9 g acid detergent fiber kg^?1. An amino acid analysis of seeds indicated that approximately 60% of the protein results from amino acids. Both byproducts were analyzed for carotenoid content. The lycopene content of peel byproduct was 734 µg g^?1 of dry material. Significant amounts of lutein, β‐carotene, and cis‐β‐carotene were also present. Seed byproduct contained 130 µg lycopene kg^?1 of dry matter. The content of other carotenoids was approximately half of that present in the peels. Peel and seed byproducts were included at 75 g kg^?1 in hen diets to determine the transfer of carotenoids to the yolk. When fed at this concentration, the lycopene content of dry egg yolk was approximately 0.9 µg g^?1. Approximately 0.1% of the lycopene in peel byproduct and approximately 0.7% of the lycopene in the seed byproduct was transferred from the feed to the yolk. Lycopene appears more similar to carotene than to oxycarotenoids in its transfer to the yolk. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

冻干甜椒贮藏过程中抗坏血酸及还原糖的变化

以冻干甜椒为材料,研究其在不同贮藏温度下抗坏血酸及还原糖含量的变化,揭示其品质变化的情况。分别采用斐林试剂比色法、固蓝盐B分光光度法测定抗坏血酸及还原糖的含量。结果表明,在贮藏期间,冻干甜椒中的抗坏血酸和还原糖含量逐渐减少,并且随储藏温度上升减少的速率增大。     

Variation in antioxidant components of tomato during vine and post-harvest ripening

The variation in the antioxidant content (lycopene, β-carotene, ascorbic acid and total phenolics) was evaluated on two tomato genotypes during vine and post-harvest ripening. Tomatoes were sampled and analysed at seven ripening stages according to the colour value. The data indicate that ripening conditions affected both the antioxidant accumulation kinetics and the final content, which was higher in post-harvest-ripened fruits. In particular, lycopene mainly accumulated in the very last period of ripening and its content was not linearly related to colour changes. Antioxidant accumulation and other ripening indexes were not significantly different in the two tomato genotypes. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Stability of ascorbic acid in adapted milk‐based infant formulae during storage

A study was made of the effects of storage (for up to 17 months at 22 or 37 °C) on the ascorbic acid contents of four adapted milk‐based infant formulae with the same composition except for the iron salt added (lactate or sulphate) and/or the vitamin E source involved (α‐tocopherol (α‐T) or α‐tocopherol acetate (α‐TAc)). Ascorbic acid was measured by a voltammetric method. The ascorbic acid contents of the formulae ranged from 0.77–0.84 g kg^?1 immediately after manufacture to 0.41–0.48 g kg^?1 after 17 months of storage. Samples stored at 22 °C had higher ascorbic acid contents than those stored at 37 °C. A multiple regression analysis performed to evaluate ascorbic acid evolution throughout storage/shelf‐life and the effects of storage temperature and the different components of the samples yielded a model explaining 79.71% of the variability in ascorbic acid content. Iron lactate and α‐tocopherol acetate addition afforded the best preservation of ascorbic acid content. The evolution of ascorbic acid was not linear, exhibiting an important decrease in the first month of storage, followed by stabilisation. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preservation effect of high pressure processing on ascorbic acid of fruits and vegetables: A review

High Pressure Processing (HPP) is a well‐established nonthermal technology for ensuring microbial safety and nutritional quality of foods. Ascorbic acid (AA) is highly labile antioxidant, susceptible to degradation when exposed to oxygen, change in pH, temperature, or pressure. Preservation of AA in fruit and vegetable products is a prime concern for food processors. This review summarizes recent data on the effect of HPP on AA content of different fruits and vegetables, and their products. In most of the food products, HPP has supported either preservation or better retention of AA after pressurization (400–600 MPa/5–10 min) at lower or room temperature. High pressure processed foods have demonstrated better stability of AA during refrigeration storage as compared to thermally processed ones. These studies establish the positive implications of HPP and justify its potential use as a promising preservation technique to safeguard AA in food products.     

抗坏血酸及抗坏血酸棕榈酸酯的稳定性研究

研究了光照、温度、pH、氧化剂、抗氧化剂、金属离子、糖类对抗坏血酸（AA）及抗坏血酸棕榈酸酯（AP）稳定性的影响。结果表明：目光、高温、氧化剂、中性及碱性环境都会不同程度地对两者造成损失,其中抗坏血酸棕榈酸酯的稳定性要强于抗坏血酸。维生素E可以有效保护AP。铜离子、铁离子、锰离子会引起AA较大的损失,锰离子对AP稳定性有显著影响。糖类对两者稳定性基本没有影响。