EFFECT OF DIFFERENT PACKAGING MATERIALS ON STORAGE STABILITY OF GARDENIA ERUBESCENS STAPF. & HUTCH. DRIED FRUITS AND POWDER

Abstract

Gardenia erubscens fruits have been identified as a valuable source of nutrients and antioxidants, which are beneficial for human health. To preserve the nutritional properties of fruits after drying, appropriate packaging material should be considered. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of different packaging materials namely high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, single-layer polyethylene, double-layer polyethylene and laminated paper bags on moisture content (MC), water activity (aw), pH, color, ß-carotene, vitamins A and C, and microbial load of dried G. erubscens fruit and powder. The samples were stored under ambient conditions for 12-weeks. The results showed that MC and aw of the dried fruits and powder increased while pH decreased as the storage progressed irrespective of the packaging material type. The redness (a∗), yellowness (b∗) and total color change (ΔE∗) values of both dried fruits and powder were significantly (p<0.05) affected by the storage period. Packaging material on the other hand affected (p<0.05) a∗ and b∗ of the dried fruits and ΔE∗ of the fruit powder. Beta-carotene, vitamin A and C contents decreased after storage in both packaging material.Microbial results of the dried fruits and powder for the 12-weeks storage in ambient conditions were in acceptable limits, regardless of the type of packaging material. The results suggest that dried G. erubscens fruits and powder may be stored in any of the packaging materials investigated for 3 months under ambient conditions without appreciable loss of quality.