<span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: HI;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">Correct packaging retained <span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:HI" lang="EN-GB">phytochemical, antioxidant properties and <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">increases shelf life of minimally processed pomegranate (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Punica granatum</i> L.) arils Cv. Mridula</span></span></span>

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of packaging materials (Poly propylene, low density poly ethylene and KPA bags) with different water and gas transmission rate on minimally processed ‘Mridula’ pomegranate arils stored at 5 ± 2 ºC and 85 ± 5 % RH for 15 days. During course of storage, phytochemical and antioxidant properties of minimally processed arils were determined at 3 days interval. The results indicated that packaging material influenced ascorbic acid, phenols, anthocyanins, antioxidant and sensory score of minimally processed arils. Arils packed in PP bags retained better total phenols, anthocyanins and antioxidant compared to LDPE and KPA packed arils. PP packed arils maintained higher acceptance score over the recommended commercial acceptance level (above 6.0) up to the 15 days of storage.