Effect of packaging on phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activity of dried wild pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) arils prepared in solar tunnel drier

Anardana, a dried product prepared from wild pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruits has been considered as a source of considerable medicinal value as a result of its high antioxidant potential. For the preparation of anardana, fruits were procured from wild pomegranate growing area of Himachal Pradesh (1265 m above mean sea level) and drying of arils was carried out in a solar tunnel drier (30-45 degrees C). The dried arils were packed in three different packaging materials viz. aluminium laminated pouches (ALP), aluminium laminated pouches with vacuum (ALPV) and gunny bags. All the packages were stored under ambient and refrigerated temperature which were further analyzed to evaluate the overall effect of packaging on total phenols (171.55 to 151.99 mg GAE/100 g), flavonoids (38.30 to 31.11 mg QuE/100 g), DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) antioxidant activity (57.75 to 52.79 %), metal chelating activity (21.12 to 18.27 %), FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power 32.85 to 28.75 mu M Fe2+/100 g) and reducing power (0.576 to 0.484) during different storage conditions. After 12 months of storage period, higher retention of total phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activity was observed in anardana packed in ALPV followed by ALP and gunny bags. The changes in the antioxidant characteristics of the anardana were slower in refrigerated storage conditions as compared to ambient.