Effect of gamma irradiation on microbial analysis, antioxidant activity, sugar content and color of ready-to-use tamarind juice during storage

Gamma irradiation is highly effective in inactivating microorganisms in various foods and it offers a safe alternative method of food decontamination. In the present study, the effect of gamma irradiation on microbial analysis, antioxidant activity, sugar content, color and sensory evaluation of ready-to-use tamarind juice was investigated during storage. A fresh tamarind juice was prepared by dissolving 5 g of pulp/100 ml of deionized distilled water and irradiated at 0, 1, 3 and 5 kGy at room temperature. Microbiological assay of the fresh and stored ready-to-use tamarind juice showed better quality after gamma irradiation. Antioxidant ability was studied by using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), FRAP (ferric reducing/antioxidant power) and total phenolic contents, and gamma irradiation had a significant increase or maintenance on the antioxidant potential of the ready-to-use tamarind juice. Contents of glucose and fructose also showed minimal alterations both in the fresh and stored samples. There was a significant improvement in the Hunter color value in both the fresh and stored tamarind juice. To conclude, gamma irradiation improves the microbial decontamination and the antioxidants as well as the color of the ready-to-use tamarind juice without any adverse change in sensory qualities. (C) 2008 Swiss Society of Food Science and Technology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.