Abstract Vitamin C is imperative component of our nutrition and used as additive in many foods owing to its high antioxidant activity. The degradation of vitamin C content in orange juice during storage was evaluated in this study. Degradation of vitamin C in orange juice during 40 days storage at 0, 05, 15, 25, and 40 °C was analyzed and evaluated. Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) accumulation in orange juice acts as an indicator of ascorbic acid degradation. The initial vitamin C content in orange juice was 34.26 mg/100 mL that reduced when subjected to various storage conditions such as temperature and time. The loss of vitamin C during storage was lowest at 0 °C and the losses increased with rise in temperature. The Vitamin C content after 40 days in orange juice at 0 °C were 7.19 mg/100 mL while the Vitamin C content reduced to 1.89 mg/100 mL in orange juice that were kept at 40 °C. Hence, with increase in temperature, the Vitamin C was degraded and accretion of HMF, 5 methyl furfural, and 2 methyl furfural was increased. The zero-order interaction between storage time and treatment showed significant influence on HMF.

Abstract Heavy metals pollution is a global threat to the environment and ecosystem due to various human and natural activities. Heavy metal intake through vegetables and diet leads to numerous ailments such as nervous disorder, kidney damage tubular growth and bone disease. The present study was conducted to mitigate the residue of heavy metals Hg, Pb, Zn and As in spinach collected from self-grown supervised field by using different washing treatments. Amount of trace metals was measured in fresh and chemically washed spinach samples with the help of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Results revealed that highest reduction of mercury, lead, zinc and arsenic residues with 10% citric acid was 23%, 28%, 54% and 22% respectively among the tested solutions. However, tap water treatment also reduced 7%, 7%, 15% and 6, respectively. Among various washing solutions citric acid proved maximum reduction potential followed by Lemon extract, sodium carbonate, reddish extract and hydrogen peroxide respectively. The percent reduction by various solutions ranged from 7 to 23%, 7 to 28%, 15 to 54% and 6 to 22% for elimination of mercury, lead, zinc and arsenic, respectively. More reduction was found in zinc followed lead, mercury and arsenic.

Abstract Guava is very delicate and alluring fruit which is being ignored since very long time despite of highly nutritious fruit and rich source of Vitamin C. It contains Vitamin C 2-3 times more than orange. Naturally the guava fruit is enriched with vitamin C and polyphenoles. Guavas fruits after harvesting were dunked in solutions of CaCl2 (1, 2 and 3%) at room temperature for 5 minutes and stored for 24 days in 5% CO2 level at temperature of 10±1°C, while the humidity level of storage chamber were 80%. The stored fruits were analyzed at 6 days of interval for sugars (glucose, fructose and sucrose g/100g) total phenolic contents (mgGAE/100g), antioxidant activity (µmolTE/g), and organic acids (citric, tartaric, ascorbic, and malic acids mg/100 g). The total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of guava fruits were declined during progression in storage but in fewer amounts as compared to room storage condition. Citric acid and ascorbic acid contents were reduced with the progression in storage, however tartaric and malic acid values were amplified at end of storage but the rate of changes were slower. The pretreatments in combination with modified atmosphere storage escalate the shelf life of guava and slow down nutritional degradation process.