title: Drying method effects on the antioxidant activity of quince (Cydonia oblonga Miller) tea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quince has many health benefits. Dried quince has been used as a tea for centuries. The aim of this study was to investigate the influences of two drying methods on the antioxidant activity of the quince.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty two fresh Iranian quinces (Cydonia oblonga) were obtained from different parts of Shiraz. Half of the quinces were peeled and both peel and flesh immediately frozen at -20°C individually. The remainder was divided in two groups, and dried with sun and oven drying methods. Proximate analysis, caloric, mineral and vitamin C contents were determined in the fresh quinces. The total phenolic, DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power analysis were done on flesh, peel, sun-dried and oven-dried quinces.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proximate and nutritional composition of the fresh quinces was similar to those reported by other researchers. Oven-dried and quince peel contained higher amounts of phenolics than the sun-dried and flesh quinces, respectively. Sun-dried and flesh samples showed lower radical scavenging effect and reducing antioxidant capacity than oven-dried and quince peel, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, oven drying can better preserve the antioxidative activity of the quince.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Gheisari
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Iran.
authors.forename: Khadijeh H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Abhari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis; D003890:Desiccation / Q000379:methods; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000032:analysis*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D027824:Rosaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D008903:Minerals; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D001205:Ascorbic Acid