Effect of UV-A light dehydration on micronutrients of mango and apple: A comprehensive metabolomic study

Dehydration techniques significantly influence the retention and transformation of micronutrients and bioactive compounds in fruits. In this study, the effects of different dehydration methods, including UV-A-light dehydration, hot air drying, freeze drying, and no UV-A-light drying on the micronutrient composition of apple and mango were investigated. Targeted metabolomic analysis using LC-MS/MS identified variations in vitamin C, β-carotene, vitamin A, and total, free, and bound phenolics across different treatments. Multivariate statistical analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering, revealed distinct biochemical profiles for each dehydration method, highlighting treatment-specific metabolite alterations. Notably, each dehydration technique produced a unique micronutrient composition, highlighting the impact of processing conditions on fruit quality. The findings provide insights into the role of dehydration in modulating fruit metabolite composition and serve as a foundation for optimizing drying techniques to enhance nutritional retention in dried fruit products.