Title: Fresh-cut orange treated with its own seed by-products presented higher antioxidant capacity and lower microbial growth

Authors: Manuel Reynaldo Cruz-Valenzuela; Diana Karina Carrazco-Lugo; Violeta Vega-Vega; Gustavo Adolfo Gonzalez-Aguilar; Jesus Fernando Ayala-Zavala

Addresses: Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. (CIAD, AC), Carretera a la Victoria Km, 0.6, La Victoria, Hermosillo, Sonora (83000), Mexico ' Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. (CIAD, AC), Carretera a la Victoria Km, 0.6, La Victoria, Hermosillo, Sonora (83000), Mexico ' Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. (CIAD, AC), Carretera a la Victoria Km, 0.6, La Victoria, Hermosillo, Sonora (83000), Mexico ' Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. (CIAD, AC), Carretera a la Victoria Km, 0.6, La Victoria, Hermosillo, Sonora (83000), Mexico ' Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. (CIAD, AC), Carretera a la Victoria Km, 0.6, La Victoria, Hermosillo, Sonora (83000), Mexico

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of orange peel and seed extracts as additives to preserve quality of fresh-cut orange. Ethanolic extraction from seeds was fractionated in polar (PE) and non-polar (NPE) solvents, and essential oils from peels (PEO) were obtained. Total phenolics, flavonoids content, antioxidant activity, antifungal activity and antibacterial properties of the obtained extracts were evaluated. NPE showed the best response in phenolic content, antioxidant and antifungal activities, followed by the PE, while the PEO showed the lowest scores. NPE was selected and applied to fresh-cut orange. Treated fruit showed the highest values of total phenolic content (32.6 mg GAE/g), flavonoids (26.3 mg QE/g) and antioxidant activity (8,270 µmol TE/g) and the lowest mesophilic bacteria (1,854 CFU/g) and total moulds and yeast (3,435 CFU/g) growth compared to controls (6.7 mg GAE/g; 5.4 mg QE/g; 1,836 µmol TE/g; 2,848 CFU/g; 19,030 CFU/g, respectively). This work demonstrates the potential of seed by-products rich in antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds that can be used to preserve quality of fresh-cut oranges.

Keywords: antibacterial activity; antioxidant activity; orange by-products; fresh-cut oranges; seed by-products; seeds; antioxidant capacity; microbial growth; antioxidants; antimicrobial potential; antioxidant potential; orange peel; seed extracts; additives; quality preservation; ethanolic extraction; polar solvents; non-polar solvents; essential oils; peels; phenolics; flavonoids; antifungal activity; antibacterial properties; phenolic content; fruits; mesophilic bacteria; Citrus sinensis; Mexico; moulds; yeast; postharvest technology; innovation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPTI.2013.051987

International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation, 2013 Vol.3 No.1, pp.13 - 27

Received: 27 Jan 2012
Accepted: 30 Aug 2012
Published online: 05 Jul 2014 *

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