title: Effects of ultraviolet light (UV-C) and heat treatment on the quality of fresh-cut Chokanan mango and Josephine pineapple.
abstract: The effects of ultraviolet (UV-C) and medium heat (70 °C) treatments on the quality of fresh-cut Chokanan mango and Josephine pineapple were investigated. Quality attributes included physicochemical properties (pH, titratable acidity, and total soluble solids), ascorbic acid content (vitamin C), antioxidant activity, as well as microbial inactivation. Consumers' acceptance was also investigated through sensory evaluation of the attributes (appearance, texture, aroma and taste). Furthermore, shelf-life study of samples stored at 4 ± 1 °C was conducted for 15 d. The fresh-cut fruits were exposed to UV-C for 0, 15, 30, and 60 min while heat treatments were carried out at 70 °C for 0, 5, 10 and 20 min. Both UV-C and medium heat treatments resulted in no significant changes to the physicochemical attributes of both fruits. The ascorbic acid content of UV-C treated fruits was unaffected; however, medium heat treatment resulted in deterioration of ascorbic acids in both fruits. The antioxidants were enhanced with UV-C treatment which could prove invaluable to consumers. Heat treatments on the other hand resulted in decreased antioxidant activities. Microbial count in both fruits was significantly reduced by both treatments. The shelf life of the fresh-cut fruits were also successfully extended to a maximum of 15 d following treatments. As for consumers' acceptance, UV-C treated fruits were the most accepted as compared to their heat-treated counterparts. The results obtained through this study support the use of UV-C treatment for better retention of quality, effective microbial inactivation and enhancement of health promoting compounds for the benefit of consumers.
authors.affiliation: Inst. of Biological Sciences and Centre for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture (CEBAR), Faculty of Science, Univ. of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Dominic Soloman
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Zuliana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Razali
authors.forename: Vicknesha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Santhirasegaram
authors.forename: Chandran
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Somasundram
mesh_terms: D031230:Ananas / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005516:Food Microbiology; D061353:Food Storage; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D031022:Mangifera / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000528:radiation effects; D013649:Taste; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: UV-C treatment; antioxidant activity; consumer acceptance; heat treatment