HomeNutritionMelatonin treatment reduces qualitative decay and improves antioxidant system in highbush blueberry fruit during cold storage

Melatonin treatment reduces qualitative decay and improves antioxidant system in highbush blueberry fruit during cold storage

January 13, 2022

J Sci Food Agric. 2022 Jan 13. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.11774. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Blueberries are considered a “functional food” because they contain bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, and anthocyanins. It is one of the most consumed berries in the world and is highly appreciated by consumers because of its unique taste and sensory properties. Fresh blueberries decay rapidly due to mould and water losses. To preserve qualitative and nutraceutical traits of fresh highbush blueberries during storage, the efficacy of 1 mM melatonin treatment was investigated at 5 °C for 3 weeks.

RESULTS: The results demonstrated that melatonin treatment reduced weight loss and delayed postharvest ripening. Compared to control, melatonin treatment induced an overproduction of polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and ascorbic acid, consequently increasing antioxidant activity. The enzymatic antioxidant system was also affected by the treatment. An increase in the activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and ascorbate peroxidase was observed in treated fruit compared to that in control fruit. Enzymatic browning, controlled by assaying the content of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide, polyphenol oxidase, guaiacol peroxidase, and lipoxygenase activities, appeared to slow down under melatonin treatment.

CONCLUSION: Melatonin coating is a valid tool to delay the perishability and qualitative decay of highbush blueberry fruit during cold storage. Furthermore, this treatment increases the production of secondary metabolites such as polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and ascorbic acid, improving the nutraceutical traits of this fruit during storage. Melatonin treatment can be considered an environmentally sustainable, non-harmful-to-human-health alternative for postharvest preservation of highbush blueberry fruit. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:35023584 | DOI:10.1002/jsfa.11774

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About The Author

Patrick Blanchard MD

Meet Dr. Blanchard Dr. Blanchard’s medical practice is an embodiment of Integrative health which brings conventional and complementary approaches together in a coordinated way. Conveniently located in sunny Florida and over the internet with ValiseMD’s secure HIPPA compliant telXmed servers. Since 1994, patients with a wide range of challenging medical problems have achieved optimum health using the best of natural medicine, judiciously combined with high-tech innovations. Breakthroughs are often achieved even after patients have consulted mainstream specialists and holistic practitioners. Dr. Blanchard is founder and CEO of ValiseMD, Inc. He is board certified in Family Medicine since 1994 and awarded Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians in 2001. He received the ‘Teacher of the Year’ award from the University of Kansas School of Medicine at completion of his residency in Family Medicine. He completed a fellowship at Wake Forest University in the field of vascular neurosonology. He holds a medical patent in the field of Gastroenterology. He holds an unrestricted license to practice medicine and surgery in Florida. He started his medical career as a Emergency Medical Technician, then as a Paramedic and later a Medical Doctor.