Effect of pulsed electric fields (PEF) on physico-chemical properties, β-carotene and antioxidant activity of air-dried apricots. (1st September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Wenshu; Feng, Zuoshan; Aila, Reheman; Hou, Yakun; Carne, Alan; Bekhit, Alaa El-Din Ahmed
• Is Part Of: Food chemistry. Volume 291(2019)
• Page Start: 253
• Page End: 262
• Publication Date: 2019-09-01
• Subjects: Apricot -- Pulsed electric fields -- Air hot drying -- Antioxidant activity -- β-Carotene -- Colour; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food -- Composition -- Periodicals; 664
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.04.021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0308-8146

Abstract

Highlights: The effects of PEF on quality of dried apricot is investigated. PEF treatments had no effect on the PPO activity and decreased the POD activity by 30% (p < 0.05). PEF treatments resulted in higher drying rates. High PEF treatment retained more β-carotene and suffered less browning during air hot drying. High PEF treatment had higher antioxidant activity and better colour. Abstract: Fresh apricots pre-treated by pulsed electric fields at different intensities [LPEF, 0.65 kV/cm, 100 Hz, 20 µs and total treatment time 30 s; HPEF1, 1.25 kV/cm, 100 Hz, 20 µs and total treatment time 30 s; HPEF2, 1.25 kV/cm, 100 Hz, 20 µs and total treatment time 60 s], along with controls [non-treated, non-treated and sulphite treated, and heat pre-treatment at 80 °C, for 10 min (HC)] and soaked in 0.2% sodium sulphite solution for 1 h and then were subject to hot air drying. The changes in drying rate, polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, and β-carotene contents as well as antioxidant activity and colour in pre-treatment and hot air-dried apricot samples were investigated. PEF and heat treatments increased the drying rate of apricots. PEF treatments had no effect on the PPO activity and decreased the POD activity (p < 0.05). HPEF2 treatment retained more β-carotene, higher antioxidant activity and suffered less browning during processing. Overall, the results indicate that combining sulphite treatment with PEF produces dried apricots with more β-carotene and antioxidant activity, and better colour.