INVESTIGADORES
NAZARENO Monica Azucena
artículos
Título:
Bioactive substance content and antioxidant activity changes during cooled storage of yellow spineless cactus pears.
Autor/es:
CORIA CAYUPÁN, Y. S.; TARGA, M.G.; OCHOA, M.J.; NAZARENO M. A.
Revista:
ACTA HORTICULTURAE
Editorial:
International Society for Horticultural Science.
Referencias:
Lugar: João Pessoa - Paraíba, Brazil ; Año: 2009 vol. 811 p. 131 - 136
ISSN:
0567-7572
Resumen:
Fresh cactus fruits are highly appreciated as good sources of vitamins and
antioxidants that are very beneficial for the health. The most cultivated variety in
Argentina is Opuntia ficus-indica "Yellow spineless". The harvest date for Southern
hemisphere starts in January and February and, for export, the transfer of the fruits
is carried out by sea (5-8ºC) and delays approximately 3-4 weeks. In order to
evaluate the real amount of health-promoting substances present in the fruits when
they arrive to external markets and consumers, post-harvest and transport
conditions were simulated during the same period of time. The objective of the
present work was to evaluate possible changes in the content of bioactive substances
and nutritional values of cactus pears conserved under refrigerated storage. Total
soluble solids, flesh humidity, fruit loss of weight, antiradical activity, vitamin C and
total polyphenol content were determined at the harvest date and after their storage
at 8°C for 3 and 4 weeks. The vitamin C analysis was carried out by HPLC. On the
other hand, Capillary Electrophoresis as an alternative technique to determine the
vitamin C content was applied to reduce time and cost of analysis. These results
were compared with those obtained ones by HPLC. In general, an increase in the
concentration of active substances is observed corresponding to the loss of water
content of the fruits of almost 10 % in 4 weeks. The flesh humidity showed much
smaller variations of approximately 4%, in the mentioned period of time. No
important vitamin losses were detected.