Stability of antioxidant activity of aloe vera powder during storage

Abstract

Aloe vera powder is known to offer health benefits and possesses inherent antioxidant properties. However, the powder shows hygroscopic characteristics and causes a decrease in antioxidant activity. Implementing appropriate packaging measures to safeguard the integrity of the antioxidant activity is essential. In order to assess the antioxidant properties of aloe vera powder’s shelf life and stability throughout storage until it reaches critical conditions, this research was conducted.. A non-factorial, completely randomized design was used with open and closed storage using 0.80 mm polypropylene plastic packaging. Aloe vera powder was stored at 25°C and relative humidity (RH) of 75-80% until the critical conditions were reached at a moisture content of 12.00%. The analysis was carried out periodically for water, phenol, and antioxidant activity to scavenge free radicals DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl). The results showed a significant increase in the moisture content during storage and decreased phenol and antioxidant activity. The unpacked powder reached its critical condition after 120 hours, whereas the powder enclosed in 0.80 mm polypropylene plastic packaging required a significantly longer duration of 44 weeks. Therefore, storage without packaging experienced a decrease in phenol and antioxidant activity levels by 88.69% and 91.45% in critical conditions. In the polypropylene packaging, there was a decline in phenol and antioxidant activity levels by 30.49% and 27.94%, respectively.