Cold Plasma Pretreatment Enhances Antioxidant Stability in Lime Fruit During Storage

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Postharvest Technology
• Plant Physiology

Background:

• Limes (Citrus aurantiifolia) are rich in antioxidants but have a short shelf life due to deterioration.
• Nonchemical methods are sought to improve fruit quality and longevity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of cold plasma (CP) pretreatment on the antioxidant properties and storage stability of limes.
• To compare the efficacy of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and gliding arc (GLIDE) plasma.

Main Methods:

• Limes were treated with DBD and GLIDE cold plasma.
• Analysis included quantification of bioactive compounds (Vitamin C, phenolics, flavonoids, tannins).
• Surface analysis used Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Main Results:

• CP treatment significantly increased key bioactive compounds, particularly in the peel.
• DBD plasma at 10 minutes showed the most significant enhancement of antioxidants.
• FTIR and SEM revealed CP-induced surface modifications affecting enzymatic activity.
• Antioxidant activity showed an initial decrease followed by a recovery phase in CP-treated limes.

Conclusions:

• Cold plasma, especially DBD, effectively enhances the antioxidant profile of limes.
• CP treatment improves postharvest stability and nutritional properties of citrus fruits.
• CP offers a promising nonchemical alternative for fruit preservation and quality enhancement.