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QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATION OF CHANGES IN BIOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF MAHUA ( MADHUCA INDICA SYN. BASSIA LATIFOLIA ) FLOWERS DURING POSTHARVEST STORAGE
Author(s) -
DAS B.K.,
CHOUDHURY B.K.,
KAR M.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of food processing and preservation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.511
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1745-4549
pISSN - 0145-8892
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-4549.2009.00398.x
Subject(s) - postharvest , sugar , population , ascorbic acid , horticulture , food science , biology , botany , chemistry , demography , sociology
Mahua ( Madhuca indica syn Bassia latifolia ) flowers have great potential as an alternative source of food in many parts of the world. However, the nutrient content of the flower deteriorates during postharvest storage, and hence, the true value of this natural product is not fully realized. To evaluate the extent of deterioration, collected flowers were stored using two methods in this investigation; first, under normally practiced conditions, labelled as normally practiced samples (NPS), i.e., the practice adopted by the flower's collectors, and second, oven dried, powdered with liquid nitrogen, and preserved in deep freezer at 0C ( ± 1C) in different small airtight sterilized vials labelled as laboratory processed samples (LPS). In both samples, soluble, reducing and nonreducing sugars, amino acids, proteins, lipids, ascorbic acid and ash contents were quantified every month for 1 year. LPS showed no change in biochemical constituents throughout the year and NPS were distinct for deterioration of the tested components.PRACTICAL APPLICATION Alarming population growth in last few decades has led to food scarcity, starvation, poverty and malnutrition in many parts of the world. However, if stored under proper conditions, the seasonal flowers of Mahua can be used as a food supplement throughout the year. Due to high sugar content it can be exploited and used as a good source of alcoholic beverage next to the sugar cane for the purpose. The feasibility of the improved storage measures, if implemented successfully by primary collectors, could have a positive impact on collectors' finances and the perennial problem of hunger and malnutrition.