title: Maintaining quality and bioactive compounds of broccoli by combined treatment with 1-methylcyclopropene and 6-benzylaminopurine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Broccoli deteriorates very quickly after harvest at ambient temperature due to the loss of green colour and the consequent yellowing of florets. To search for an effective method to control quality deterioration, the effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) combined with 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) treatment on visual quality, antioxidant enzymes and bioactive compounds in broccoli florets were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A combined treatment of 2.5 µL L⁻¹ 1-MCP and 200 mg L⁻¹ 6-BA significantly reduced the increase of lightness (L*) value, and retained a high level for the hue value (H) and chlorophyll content. Superoxide dismutase, ascobate peroxidase and catalase activities increased while the activity of peroxidase decreased during storage in treated samples in comparison with the controls. The combined treatment enhanced the biosynthesis of glucosinolate and the formation of the anticarcinogen sulforaphane, which improved the health benefit of broccoli.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that a combined treatment of 1-MCP and 6-BA could be a good candidate for maintaining the visual quality and enhancing the nutritional value in broccoli during storage at 15 °C.
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, PR China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xuehong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhenfeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Kaituo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Haitao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yonghua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000032:analysis; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D001937:Brassica / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003521:Cyclopropanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D035263:Flowering Tops / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D063427:Food Quality; D061353:Food Storage; D005961:Glucosinolates / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D007701:Kinetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009753:Nutritive Value; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000032:analysis; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D014674:Plant Proteins, Dietary / Q000378:metabolism; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D011687:Purines; D013454:Sulfoxides; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D005520:Food Preservatives; D005961:Glucosinolates; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D014674:Plant Proteins, Dietary; D011687:Purines; D013454:Sulfoxides; D013861:Thiocyanates; D002734:Chlorophyll; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C016766:sulforaphane; C412563:1-methylcyclopropene; C480551:benzylaminopurine; D007701:Kinetin