Antioxidant activity of chitosan film-covered of in natura Royal Gala apple throughout storage at room temperature and its relation with fruit color

• Grant number: 09/17479-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2010
• End date: February 28, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Biochemical and Molecular Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Magali Conceição Monteiro da Silva
• Grantee: Mariana Nucci
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The apple production in Brazil is concentrated in the South region. In 2007 a million ton apples were harvested and more than 112 ton were exported in 2008. It is expected a production of 900 thousands ton in 2010. The antioxidant activity of fruit is related to the protection of biological system against hazard effects from oxidative reaction, which usually happen in vegetable and animal organisms, and perform an important hole in the diseases protection like cancer, Parkinson, Alzheimer's, coronarian diseases, etc. The use of chitosan-covered films in fruit helps maintaining the characteristics of fresh fruit (recently harvested) the closest as possible, during shelf life. The aim of this work is to evaluate the influence of Royal Gala apple covered with chitosan-based film in the total antioxidant activity, total phenolic compounds and in the physico-chemical characteristics of the fruit during shelf life. (AU)