Modified atmosphere packaging and post-packaging irradiation of Rumex induratus leaves: a comparative study of postharvest quality changes

Abstract

The effects of conventional and inert-gas enriched atmospheres, as well as those caused by different γ-irradiation doses, on buckler sorrel () leaves quality were evaluated and compared after 12 days of storage at 4 °C. The green colour of the abaxial surface of the leaves was relatively stable, as well as the carbohydrates content and the calorific value. The storage time decreased the amounts of fructose, glucose, trehalose, α-tocopherol, and β-tocopherol and increased the levels of total organic acids and δ-tocopherol. The total tocopherols content was higher in air-packaged non-irradiated leaves, antioxidant compounds that may have contributed to the preservation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Some antioxidant properties were also favoured during storage. It was found that the overall postharvest quality of buckler sorrel leaves is better maintained with the argon-enriched atmospheres, while the 6 kGy dose was a suitable option to preserve PUF+A during cold storage. This study highlights the suitability of the applied postharvest treatments and the interest to include buckler sorrel leaves in contemporary diets.

Wild edible plants: Nutritional and toxicological characteristics, retrieval strategies and importance for today's society

“…Very high levels of α-tocopherol (71.59-75.47 mg/100 g) were reported in G. hederacea (Barros et al, 2010d), corresponding to approximately 74% of the total tocopherols (Carvalho, 2010). A high content was also reported in P. oleracea (Petropoulos et al, 2016), A. acutifolius (García- Herrera et al, 2014aHerrera et al, , 2013, T. pulegioides (Fernandes et al, 2010), M. sylvestris leafy flowering stems (Barros et al, 2010a), R. acetosella (Pereira et al, 2011), R. induratus (Pereira et al, 2011;Pinela et al, 2016c) and O. vulgare (Barros et al, 2010d). A 100-g portion of these plants contributes in more than 30% for the RDA of vitamin E. Other plants stand out as a source of these lipophilic antioxidants.…”

“…Despite the high mean vales of ascorbic acid in R. induratus (51.69 mg/100 g), R. ulmifolius (30.30 mg/100 g), H. stoechas (30.27 mg/100 g), P. tridentatum (15.68 mg/100 g) and M. fontana (15.43 mg/100 g) (Table 6), this vitamin was not detected or detected in small quantity by some authors Pinela et al, 2016c) in some of the samples.…”

“…Some of these plant parts have been used as condiment and/or in herbal beverages to treat a number of health conditions (Table 1). In turn, amounts lower than 700 mg/100 g were detected in P. oleracea (Petropoulos et al, 2015), N. officinale, R. induratus (Pereira et al, 2011;Pinela et al, 2016c), R. acetosella, B. officinalis and M. fontana (Pereira et al, 2011), wild greens commonly eaten raw in salads or cooked ( Table 1).…”

“…Vitamin C is mainly ingested as ascorbic acid (the major form in plants) but also as dehydroascorbic acid (oxidized form). The four Polygonaceae species R. ulmifolius (Barros et al, 2010e;Pereira et al, 2013), R. induratus (Pereira et al, 2011;Pinela et al, 2016c), R. acetosella (Pereira et al, , 2011 and R. papillaris (Morales et al, 2014;Sánchez-Mata et al, 2012), the wild asparagus T. communis and A. acutifolius (Martins et al, 2011;Pereira et al, 2013;Sánchez-Mata et al, 2012), P. oleracea (Petropoulos et al, 2016(Petropoulos et al, , 2015, H. stoechas (Barros et al, 2010e;Pereira et al, 2013) and M. sylvestris flowers (Barros et al, 2010a) were reported as having a high content of ascorbic acid (Table 6). Based on the mean values of this vitamin, it is possible to conclude that a 100-g portion of these WEPs is sufficient to provide more than 30% of the RDA of vitamin C for male and/or female individuals with 19 or more years old (Table A1).…”

“…However, the ascorbic acid values described for some of the species present a high range, which may be related, in part, to the analytical method used. In fact, while some authors Morales et al, 2014;Pereira et al, 2013;Pinela et al, 2016aPinela et al, , 2016cSánchez-Mata et al, 2012;Tardío et al, 2011) have analyzed the ascorbic acid by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or ultra-fast liquid chromatography (UFLC), others have used spectrophotometric assays (2,6-dichloroindophenol titrimetric method) (Barros et al, 2010a(Barros et al, , 2010d(Barros et al, , 2010e, 2009Martins et al, 2011;Pereira et al, 2011;Pinela et al, 2011).…”