THE EFFECT OF COLD STORAGE ON THE BIOACTIVE COMPONENTS AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF CAUCASIAN WHORTLEBERRY (Vaccinium arctostaphylos L.). A PRELIMINARY STUDY

In this study, antioxidant activity (AA), total phenolics (TP), total flavonoids (TF), individual phenolic compounds (IPCs), vitamin C and six other fruit characteristics including weight loss, flesh firmness, color, soluble solids content (SSC), dry matter and titratable acidity (TA) of Caucasian whortleberry fruits (Vaccinium arctostaphylos L.) were determined at harvest and at a week postharvest intervals throughout the cold storage at 0°C for 4 weeks. Significant decreases were observed in fruit weight and flesh firmness during the cold storage period. While L* and chroma values decreased significantly, an increase was observed in hue angle values. Significant increases were observed in dry matter, but decreases were observed in SSC, TA and vitamin C contents. Caucasian whortleberry fruits had quite high polyphenol contents. Total phenolics (TP), total flavonoids (TF), antioxidant activity (AA) (according to ABTS+, DPPH· and FRAP antioxidant tests) and individual phenolic compounds (IPCs) significantly decreased throughout the cold storage. Chlorogenic acid was the major phenolic in Caucasian whortleberry fruits. It was concluded that Caucasian whortleberry fruits with high phenolic compound and flavonoid levels might serve a potential antioxidant source.