engleski

Application of Litsea cubeba to improve shelf-life of fresh-cut ‘Packham’s Triumph’ pears

Plant-derived natural products can be of interest as a source of alternatives to improve the shelf-life and the safety of food. Litsea cubeba has recently received much attention due to multiple functions as antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal, antioxidant and anticancer agent. The application of Litsea cubeba essential oil (LC) in this investigation is one of the first experiments made in order to improve shelf-life of minimally processed fruits. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of LC at different concentrations (50, 100 and 250 ppm), on shelf-life of fresh- cut pears ‘Packham’s Triumph’ variety. Colour of fresh-cut pears as well as, polyphenol content, antioxidant activity and flesh firmness of untreated and treated samples, were determined. Analysis were carried out immediately following oil treatments, and on 1, 7, 14 day of storage at 2 °C. Treatment with 50 ppm of LC was the most effective treatment to maintain colour of fresh-cut pears during 14 day of storage. Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in samples treated with solutions of LC remain stable during 14 day of storage. The lowest loss of firmness was detected in fresh-pears treated with 250 ppm LC. Essential oil of Litsea cubeba has promising application as a treatment of fresh- cut pears.

pears, Litsea cubeba, fresh-cut, shelf-life

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