Prestorage oxalic acid treatment maintained visual quality, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant potential of pomegranate after long-term storage at 2 degrees C

J Agric Food Chem. 2010 Jun 9;58(11):6804-8. doi: 10.1021/jf100196h.

Abstract

Oxalic acid at three concentrations (2, 4, and 6 mM) was applied by dipping to pomegranate fruits of cv. Mollar de Elche, which were then stored for 84 days at 2 degrees C. Pomegranate is a chilling-sensitive fruit and, thus, control fruits exhibited chilling injury (CI) symptoms after long-term storage at 2 degrees C that were accompanied by increased respiration rate, weight loss, and electrolyte leakage (EL). The CI symptoms were significantly reduced by oxalic acid treatment, especially for the 6 mM concentration. In addition, control pomegranates showed significant reduction in the content of total phenolics and ascorbic acid as well as in total antioxidant activity (TAA), in both hydrophilic (H-TAA) and lipophilic (L-TAA) fractions. The application of oxalic acid led to lower losses of total phenolics and significant increase in both ascorbic acid content and H-TAA, whereas L-TAA remained unaffected. Thus, oxalic acid could be a promising postharvest treatment to alleviate CI and increase antioxidant potential.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / analysis*
  • Ascorbic Acid / analysis
  • Food Handling*
  • Food Preservation / methods*
  • Fruit / chemistry
  • Lythraceae / chemistry*
  • Lythraceae / drug effects
  • Oxalic Acid / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Oxalic Acid
  • Ascorbic Acid