ARS | Publication request: Effect of UV-C Irradiation on Nutraceuticals in Blueberries

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 22, 2006
Publication Date: December 29, 2006
Citation: Chen, C., Wang, S.Y., Wang, C.Y. 2006. Effect of UV-C Irradiation on Nutraceuticals in Blueberries. Meeting Abstract.

Technical Abstract: UV-C treatment has been shown to reduce decay of fruits after harvest. However, little information is available on the influence of UV-C illumination on changes of nutraceutical content in fruits. This study was initiated to investigate the effect of UV-C irradiation on total phenolics, total anthocyanin, and individual nutraceutical compounds in blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum, cv. Sierra). Significant increases of total phenolics, total anthocyanin and antioxidant activity were found in fruit irradiated by 2.15 or 4.30 kJ m-2 UV-C, but not in fruit irradiated by 0.43 or 6.45 kJ m-2 UV-C as compared to those in control fruit. Similar trends were observed for chlorogenic acid, resveratrol, myricetin 3-arabinoside, quercetin 3-galactoside, quercetin 3-arabinoside, quercetin derivative, kaempferol 3-glucoside, delphinidin-3-galactoside, delphinidin-3-arabinoside, petunidin-3-arabinoside, petunidin-3-glucoside, malvidin-3-galactoside, and malvidin-3-arabinoside as analyzed by HPLC. These results indicate that adequate treatment with UV-C not only can promote antioxidant activity, but also can improve the nutraceutical quality of blueberry fruit.