Abstract
Borage (Borago officinalis L.) is a wild vegetable appreciated as a folk medicine and for culinary preparations. The introduction of borage as a specialized cultivation would allow for the diversification of vegetable crops and would widen the offerings of raw and minimally processed leafy vegetables. Thus, the aim of the research was to evaluate the quality and shelf-life of fresh-cut borage stored at different temperatures. Borage plants were grown during the autumn–winter season and immediately minimally processed after harvest. Fresh-cut borage leaves packed in sealed bags were stored at 2 or 6 °C for 21 d. Weight loss, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), ascorbic acid, nitrates, leaf color characteristics and overall quality were determined through the storage period. Borage plants were deemed suitable for minimal processing. Storage temperature significantly influenced the rate of quality loss. Borage leaves had an initial nitrate content of 329.3 mg kg−1 FW that was not affected by temperature or storage. TSS and TA were higher in leaves stored at 6 °C. TSS, TA and ascorbic acid content increased during storage. Minimally processed borage leaves stored at 2 °C had lower weight loss and leaf color modifications during storage and a longer shelf life than those stored at 6 °C, so were still marketable after 21 d of storage.
Highlights
Borage (Borago officinalis L.) is a hairy annual herb known from ancient times throughout the Mediterranean region, Europe and Northern Asia
Agricultural interest in borage has increased for the potential market of gamma linolenic acid extracted from the seed; it is an essential and unusual fatty acid that is an intermediate of indispensable compounds in the human body [11], and has many potential medical uses: as an antithrombotic, to lower blood pressure and cholesterol formation, Horticulturae 2019, 5, 66; doi:10.3390/horticulturae5040066
Seeds of borage accessions from a wild germplasm collection from different Sicilian locations were sown in polystyrene trays (84 holes) filled with a commercial substrate (SER CA-V7 Special semine, Vigorplant Italia srl, Fombio, Italy) and plantlets were grown in an unheated greenhouse until they had 3 or 4 true leaves and were ready for transplant
Summary
Borage (Borago officinalis L.) is a hairy annual herb known from ancient times throughout the Mediterranean region, Europe and Northern Asia. It is widespread all over the world and is appreciated by folk medicine as a diuretic, demulcent, emollient, expectorant, nerves and cardiac tonic, home remedy for blood purification, for the treatment of swelling and inflammation, coughs and other respiratory complaints, and as a culinary preparation [1,2,3]. Agricultural interest in borage has increased for the potential market of gamma linolenic acid (all-cis-6,9,12-octadecatrienoic) extracted from the seed; it is an essential and unusual fatty acid that is an intermediate of indispensable compounds in the human body [11], and has many potential medical uses: as an antithrombotic, to lower blood pressure and cholesterol formation, Horticulturae 2019, 5, 66; doi:10.3390/horticulturae5040066 www.mdpi.com/journal/horticulturae
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