Effect of high hydrostatic pressure on the polyphenols and antioxidant activity of plantain pulp ( Musa paradisiaca AAB )

BACKGROUND The impact of high‐pressure processing ( HPP ) on the polyphenol ( PP ) content and antioxidant activity ( AOX ) of plantain pulp was evaluated. Pressures of 400, 500 and 600  MPa were applied to plantain pulp for 90 and 180 s at room temperature (25 °C). Polyphenoloxidase activity, extractable ( EPP ) and non‐extractable PP ( NEPP ) contents, flavonoid content and AOX ( FRAP , ABTS •+ ) were evaluated. In addition, PP identification was performed using high‐performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS Polyphenoloxidase activity was inhibited after HPP under all of the conditions studied. Increases of 110.80% and 137.40% in EPP content under conditions of 500  MPa /180 s and 600  MPa /90 s were observed with a simultaneous improvement in the AOX with increments of up to 128.71%. The treatment under conditions of 500  MPa /90 s had the highest total PP content, including the highest content of flavonoids (0.22 g ellagic acid equivalents kg −1  dry weight) and the proportion of NEPP that contained hydrolysable PPs (91.12 g gallic acid equivalents kg −1  dry weight with high AOX . The identified PPs included catechin, quercetin, gallic and hydroxybenzoic acids. CONCLUSION HPP performed at a room temperature can be used for improving the total content of PP compounds in plantain pulp under specific pressure and time conditions. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry