Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems of minimally processed cactus stems (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill.) packaged under modified atmospheres

• Published in: International journal of food science & technology Vol. 48; no. 12; pp. 2603 - 2612
• Main Authors: Ventura-Aguilar, Rosa I., Rivera-Cabrera, Fernando, Méndez-Iturbide, Daniel, Pelayo-Zaldívar, Clara, Bosquez-Molina, Elsa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2013; Wiley-Blackwell; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Antioxidant capacity; Antioxidants; Atmospheres; Biological and medical sciences; cactus stems; Carotenoids; Cultivars; Enzymes; Food industries; Food packaging; Food science; Foods; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Modified atmospheres; phenolics; Phenols; Polyurethane resins; reactive oxygen species; Sod; Stems; Oxygen; Cactaceae; carotenoids; Antioxidant capacity; cactus stems; Enzymatic system; Antioxidant; Minimal processing; Stem; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; reactive oxygen species; Pigments; Phenols; Spermatophyta; Opuntia ficus indica; Modified atmosphere; Carotenoid; Species; Enzymatic reaction; phenolics
• ISSN: 0950-5423; 1365-2621
• DOI: 10.1111/ijfs.12256

Summary The aim of this work was to determine the enzymatic activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) together with the total phenolic and carotenoid contents and antioxidant capacity of two cultivars of cactus stems under modified atmosphere packaging containing a passive atmosphere, an active (with N2) atmosphere and control (unsealed polyurethane trays) all stored at 4 ± 1 °C. Results indicated that Atlixco cultivar cactus stems had a shelf life that was twice as long (20 days) than that of Milpa Alta cultivar under N2 MAP. The total enzyme activities of SOD, APX and CAT as well as the carotenoid content were higher in Atlixco than in Milpa Alta. The antioxidant enzymatic and non‐enzymatic systems as well as the antioxidant capacity and the phenolic content retention determined in Atlixco cactus stems under N2 MAP appear to explain the longer postharvest life of this cultivar.