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- Author or Editor: Malkeet S. Padda x
Phenolic acids are considered important antioxidants that may help to prevent many human chronic diseases. The antioxidant activity and phenolic content of sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] roots and leaves of different sizes and ages, respectively, were quantified. Small roots (≈4 g root weight) had a higher antioxidant activity and phenolic content compared with full-sized marketable roots (≈300 g root weight). Phenolic content in marketable roots was significantly higher in the cortex tissue than in the internal pith tissue. The highest total phenolic content [chlorogenic acid equivalents (10.3 mg·g−1 dry weight)] and antioxidant activity [Trolox equivalents (9.7 mg·g−1 dry weight)] was found in cortex tissue of small-sized roots. Sweetpotato leaves had a significantly higher phenolic content and antioxidant activity than roots. Young, immature unfolded leaves had the highest total phenolic content (88.5 mg·g−1 dry weight) and antioxidant activity (99.6 mg·g−1 dry weight). Chlorogenic acid was the major phenolic acid in root and leaf tissues with the exception of young immature leaves in which the predominant phenolic acid was 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid. The results suggest that small-sized roots, which are typically discarded in the field, and young immature leaves may be concentrated sources of phenolic antioxidants.
Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity were quantified in the principal sweetpotato cultivars marketed in the European Union. Total phenolic content, individual phenolic acids, and antioxidant activity in each cultivar were determined using Folin-Denis reagent, reversed-phase HPLC, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) methods, respectively. Significant differences in phenolic composition and antioxidant activity were found between cultivars. A Jamaican-grown, white-fleshed cultivar had the highest total phenolic content [4.11 mg·g-1 chlorogenic acid (dry tissue weight)], while the highest antioxidant activity [3.60 mg·g-1 Trolox (dry tissue weight)] was observed in the orange-fleshed California-grown cultivar Diane. Chlorogenic acid and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid were the predominant phenolic acids, while caffeic acid was the least abundant in most cultivars. The highest content of chlorogenic acid (0.42 mg·g-1 dry tissue weight); 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (0.43 mg·g-1 dry tissue weight); and 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid (0.25 mg·g-1 dry tissue weight) was present in the white-fleshed Jamaican cultivar. The orange-fleshed cultivars Diane and Beauregard had the highest content of caffeic acid (0.13 mg·g-1 dry tissue weight) and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (0.32 mg·g-1 dry tissue weight), respectively.
Three different style fresh-cut (shredded, French fry, and sliced) sweetpotatoes [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] were stored at 0 and 5 °C for 4 and 8 days. At specified storage intervals, the fresh-cut sweetpotatoes were analyzed for total phenolics, individual phenolic acids, and antioxidant activity. Sweetpotato tissue analyzed immediately after cutting was considered the control. Storage at 5 °C resulted in an increase in total phenolics in all types of fresh-cut sweetpotatoes, except in shredded tissue analyzed after 4 days of storage. However, at 0 °C, only sliced tissue accumulated higher total phenolics than the control. In general, antioxidant activity in all fresh-cut sweetpotatoes held at 5 °C was higher than in the control. No significant increase in antioxidant activity was observed in shredded sweetpotatoes stored at 0 °C. Chlorogenic acid followed by 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid were the predominant phenolic acids present in fresh-cut sweetpotatoes. The highest content of chlorogenic acid (539.9 μg·g−1 dry weight) in sliced tissue stored for 8 days at 5 °C was ≈6-fold higher than in the control (88.3 μg·g−1 dry weight). No significant development of tissue browning, off-odors, or off-flavors were observed after 8 days of storage and the products were considered to be marketable.
Three different style cuts of minimally processed sweetpotatoes (shredded, French-fry, and sliced) were stored at 0 °C and 5 °C for 4 and 8 days. Total phenolic content, individual phenolic acids, and free radical scavenging activity were determined using Folin-Denis reagent, reversed-phase HPLC, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) methods, respectively. Total phenolic content in sliced cut sweetpotatoes held at 5 °C was higher than in the shredded cut. Both sliced and French-fry cut sweetpotatoes held at 5 °C had significantly higher antioxidant activity than shredded cut sweetpotatoes. All treatments, except shredded sweetpotatoes held at 0 °C, had significantly higher total phenolic content and antioxidant activity after 4 and 8 days of storage. Minimally processed sweetpotatoes held at 5 °C accumulated more phenolic compounds and had a higher antioxidant activity than sweetpotatoes held at 0 °C. Chlorogenic acid followed by 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid were the predominant phenolic acids present in sweetpotatoes. The rate of increase in individual phenolic acid content with storage time was higher at 5 °C than at 0 °C. No tissue browning was observed in any of the cuts after 8 days of storage and the products were considered to be marketable.
The efficacy of several proprietary plastic pallet cover systems to maintain strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) fruit quality during commercial shipment was determined. ‘Albion’ fruit were harvested from farms near Watsonville, CA. Fruit in vented plastic clamshells were palletized and forced-air cooled to 33–35 °F. Different cover systems (CO2 West, PEAKfresh, PrimePro, Tectrol) were placed over the pallets. Pads that released carbon dioxide (CO2) gas were placed inside the CO2 West cover. The Tectrol cover was sealed to the pallet base, a partial vacuum was applied, and pressurized CO2 gas was injected inside. The systems other than Tectrol remained open at the base. Six separate shipments of palletized fruit were transported in refrigerated (32–39 °F) truck trailers to distribution centers in either Florida or Georgia in 2.3–4.7 days. CO2 concentrations within pallets at the beginning and end of transport were highest (11% to 16%) in the sealed Tectrol system and relatively low (0.06% to 0.30%) in the open CO2 West, PEAKfresh, and PrimePro cover systems. Relative to noncovered control fruit, which lost 0.8% fresh weight during shipment, the pallet covers reduced the transport-related weight loss by 38% to 52%. The incidence of fruit decay was low (1.0% to 1.4%) after transport but increased substantially following a 2-day shelf life at 68 °F. However, fruit from the Tectrol pallets exhibited significantly less decay (36%) after shelf life than the CO2 West (39%), noncovered control (41%), PrimePro (42%), and PEAKfresh (43%) pallets. Fruit sensory quality was unaffected by the different pallet cover systems. Our findings show that transporting strawberries in the sealed Tectrol pallet cover system, in which CO2 concentrations were elevated to 11% to 16%, was most effective in complementing current low temperature management practices to maintain fruit quality.