Abstract
The study of modified atmospheric packaging (MAP) of fresh-cut bitter gourd was taken to extend the shelf life. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP) films with a thickness of 100 micron (µ) were selected due to their less permeability to O2. The fresh-cut bitter gourd packaged under two different atmosphere (active – 3% O2 and 5% CO2 and passive – atmospheric air) and stored at 8±2°C. The results showed that active MAP in LDPE had a minimum reduction in the physiological loss in weight (4.2%), chlorophyll content (19.26%), ascorbic acid (15%) and minimum increase of color value ‘a’ (44%), titratable acidity (66%), bacteria (50%), fungi (42.4%) after 15 days of storage. The sensory evaluation of maximum overall acceptability 8.2 was recorded in active MAP in LDPE. Key words: Modified atmospheric packaging, bitter gourd, active modified atmospheric packaging (MAP), passive modified atmospheric packaging (MAP), fresh-cut.
Highlights
Vegetables are rich sources of essential nutrients like minerals, vitamins A, C, and E, phytochemicals such as folates, glucosinolates, carotenoids, flavonoids and phenolic acids, lycopene, and dietary fibres (Fasuyi, 2006)
The results showed that active modified atmospheric packaging (MAP) in Low density polyethylene (LDPE) had a minimum reduction in the physiological loss in weight (4.2%), chlorophyll content (19.26%), ascorbic acid (15%) and minimum increase of color value ‘a’ (44%), titratable acidity (66%), bacteria (50%), fungi (42.4%) after 15 days of storage
Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) is a member of Cucubitaceae family and it is one of the most popular vegetables cultivated in China, Taiwan, Pakistan, India, and Philippines for their immature fruits and sometimes for the tender leafy shoots (Yamaguchi, 1983)
Summary
Vegetables are rich sources of essential nutrients like minerals, vitamins A, C, and E, phytochemicals such as folates, glucosinolates, carotenoids, flavonoids and phenolic acids, lycopene, and dietary fibres (Fasuyi, 2006). The fresh-cut bitter gourd packaged under two different atmosphere (active – 3% O2 and 5% CO2 and passive – atmospheric air) and stored at 8±2°C. The gas concentration of fresh-cut bitter gourd packaged under passive MAP in a LDPE pouch (Figure 2) showed the decrease of O2 concentration from 21 to 0.423% and increase of CO2 from 0.01 to 7.4% whereas in PP pouches, the O2 concentration was decreasing from 21 to 0.321% and CO2 production was increasing from 0.01 to 7.6% till the 12th day of storage.
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