Published in Scientific Papers. Series A. Agronomy, Vol. LIX
Written by Luziana HOXHA, Renata KONGOLI
This paper aimed to evaluate the drying effect on phenolic content and antioxidant activity of two autochthonous fig varieties (Roshnik and Malakuq) with different colour taken respectively from Berat and Elbasan region in Albania. For drying of samples were applied sun-drying and hot air dehydration processes. Before processing fig varieties were analyzed for their total polyphenolics content, flavonoids and anthocyanins content separately in the whole fresh fruit, pulp and peel., also determinations were done in the dried fruits after sun-drying and hot air dehydration process. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'-azinobis-(3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging assays. Total polyphenolic content in whole fresh fruit, pulp, and peel and dried figs ranged 81.30-214.59 mg GAE 100 g-1 DM-1, anthocyanins content ranged 0.0-17.76 mg C3G 100 g-1 DM-1, and flavonoids content ranged 19.17-95.66 mg CE 100 g-1 DM-1 of sample. Antioxidant activity evaluated using DPPH assay results ranged from 3.09 to 6.48 mol TE 100 g-1 DM-1, and from ABTS assay values ranged from 14.04 to 34.88 mol AAE 100 g-1 DM-1 of sample. The data obtained showed that autochthonous fig varieties are good source of antioxidants, and selected red fig variety showed higher phenolic content, compared to yellow fig variety. It was seen that peel showed higher antioxidant activity than pulp, as it resulted with higher total polyphenolic, flavonoids and anthocyanins content. Both drying processes influenced on increasing the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity, but hot air dehydration process influenced more in increasing total phenolic content and antioxidant activity, also influenced more in lowering moisture content and pH, and increasing total acidity of final dried product compared to sun-drying process.
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