An insight into the mechanisms underpinning the anti-browning effect of Codium tomentosum on fresh-cut apples

Augusto, A., Simões, T., Novais, S. C., Mitchell, G., Lemos, M. F. L., Niranjan, K. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6525-1543 and Silva, S. F. J. (2022) An insight into the mechanisms underpinning the anti-browning effect of Codium tomentosum on fresh-cut apples. Food Research International, 161. 111884. ISSN 0963-9969 doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111884

Abstract/Summary

This work focuses on understanding the action of a novel seaweed extract with anti-browning functionality in fresh-cut apples. Organic fresh-cut apples were coated by immersion in an aqueous Codium tomentosum seaweed extract (0.5 % w/v), packaged under ambient atmospheric conditions in plastic bags, and stored at 4 ˚C for 15 days. Browning-related enzymatic activities, as well as targeted gene expression related to superficial browning, were monitored immediately after coating and followed at five-day intervals, until a final storage period of 15 days. Gene expression was particularly affected one hour after coating application (day 0), with no expression registered for peroxidase (mdPOD) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (mdPAL) genes in the coated samples. A reduction in polyphenol oxidase expression levels was also observed. After 15 days of storage, the coated samples developed lower browning levels and presented distinctly lower activities of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase - the oxidative enzymes predominantly involved in enzymatic browning. The observed post-coating suppression of mdPAL and mdPOD expression, and reduction in mdPPO expression, suggest that the seaweed C. tomentosum extract delays the activation of these genes, and decreases enzymatic activity, which in turn accounts for the coating’s anti-browning effect.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/106977
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Chemical Analysis Facility (CAF) Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences > Food Research Group
Publisher	Elsevier
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