Changes in the biochemical and bioactive constituents of Indian hog plum (Spondias mangifera Willd.) fruit during ambient storage

摘要

Indian hog plum (Spondias mangifera Willd.) is a drupaceous fruit, popular in the food and nutraceutical industries for its taste and health benefits. This study reports on changes in the major bioactive and biochemical constituents at different stages of maturity of Indian hog plum, fruit during ambient storage. For the first time, the bioactive compound, spondiol, has been adopted as a biomarker to assess the nutraceutical quality index of S. mangifera fruit during storage. Fruit harvested from 9 - 11 weeks after fruit set were found to be of optimum maturity, with high concentrations of spondiol and moderate levels of climacteric respiration. Other co-ordinated biochemical changes that coincided with the climacteric peak in respiration were: loss of chlorophyll, reduced ascorbic acid, lower titrable acidity, phenolics, softer endocarp, and delayed ripening. Hog plum fruit had a shelf life of 10 d. Immature fruit showed a rapid deterioration in their bioactive and biochemical constituents after harvest, and thus exhibited a shorter shelf-life of 2 - 3 d. Over-mature fruit (i.e., fruit harvested >= 11 weeks after fruit set), exhibited a shelf-life of 8 - 10 d; but, in this case, hardening of the endocarp, shrinking of the peel and pulp from the endocarp, and a rapid decline in bioactive and biochemical constituents, rendered the fruit useless for fresh consumption or for processing.