title: Assessment of vacuum-dried peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) as a source of natural antioxidants.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of temperature in the vacuum drying process of Mentha piperita L. (50 to 90 °C). Generally, drying processes affect the quality of product, however, vacuum drying works under sub-atmospheric pressures. In order to investigate how temperature affects this herb, as to color, chlorophyll, total phenolic (TPC), total flavonoid (TFC) contents, antioxidant activity by DPPH and ORAC methods. Mineral, vitamin C and sugar contents were also evaluated. A slight change in color and chlorophyll content was observed in the samples. The highest values for TPC, TFC and antioxidant activity methods were obtained at 50 and 70 °C however, a decrease in the vitamin C content was observed. Minerals such as K, Ca, Mg and Na were found. Sucrose showed the highest sugar content. This work suggests that M. piperita L. can be used as a natural antioxidant, whether fresh or dried.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Engineering, La Serena University, Av. Raúl Bitrán 1305, Box 599, La Serena, Chile.
authors.forename: Elsa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Uribe
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Engineering, La Serena University, Av. Raúl Bitrán 1305, Box 599, La Serena, Chile.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Engineering, La Serena University, Av. Raúl Bitrán 1305, Box 599, La Serena, Chile.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vega-Gálvez
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Engineering, La Serena University, Av. Raúl Bitrán 1305, Box 599, La Serena, Chile. Electronic address: iquispe@userena.cl.
authors.forename: Issis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Quispe-Fuentes
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Engineering, La Serena University, Av. Raúl Bitrán 1305, Box 599, La Serena, Chile.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry; D061353:Food Storage; D036142:Mentha piperita / Q000737:chemistry*; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D014618:Vacuum
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Antioxidant activity; Chlorophyll content; Peppermint; Sugars; Vacuum drying