Effects of electron beam irradiation on microbial load, physicochemical properties, sensory quality, stability of active components, and antioxidant activity of Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC

Shuncheng Zhao; Haiyan Zhu; Xia Tang; Dan Wang; Peng Gao; Benyun Chen; Min Huang; Jikai Liu

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2024.111450

Effects of electron beam irradiation on microbial load, physicochemical properties, sensory quality, stability of active components, and antioxidant activity of Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC

Appl Radiat Isot. 2024 Jul 20:216:111450. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2024.111450. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Shuncheng Zhao¹, Haiyan Zhu¹, Xia Tang¹, Dan Wang¹, Peng Gao², Benyun Chen³, Min Huang², Jikai Liu⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China.
² Institute of Biotechnology, Sichuan Institute of Atomic Energy, Chengdu, 610101, China; Irradiation Preservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 610101, China.
³ Chongqing Hengde Irradiation Technology Co., LTD, Chongqing, 402560, China.
⁴ School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China. Electronic address: liujikai@swust.edu.cn.

PMID: 39571394
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2024.111450

Abstract

Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC. (PG) is an edible and medicinal plant. This study aimed to investigate the potential of electron beam (EB) irradiation for preserving PG. EB irradiation at doses of 2-8 kGy were applied to PG, and the effects on microbial content, sensory qualities, chemical qualities, and EB penetration were examined. Results showed that irradiation with 6 kGy effectively maintained the microbiological quality of PG when packing thickness was ≤6.3 cm during a 360-day storage period. The physicochemical properties, color, active ingredient contents, and antioxidant capacities of PG remained unaffected. However, total flavonoid and platycodin D (PD) content exhibited a non-dose-dependent alteration. The use of electronic nose analysis successfully differentiated the odor of EB irradiated PG samples from non-irradiated ones. Fingerprint analysis also indicated no significant impact of EB irradiation on PG quality. These findings suggest that EB treatment could be a valuable approach for extending the shelf life of PG.

Keywords: Electron beam irradiation; High-performance liquid chromatogram (HPLC) fingerprint; Platycodon grandiflorum; Preservation; Quality.