Effects of high voltage electric field on storage life and antioxidant capacity of whole pomegranate fruit

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of high voltage electric field (HVEF) on the antioxidant system in stored pomegranate fruit. The experiments were conducted at cold storage for two months under three selected electric field levels (0, 1.5 and 3 kV/cm). Results showed that non-enzymatic antioxidant contents including phenols and ascorbic acid were better preserved by 1.5 kV/cm treatment than control after 60 days of storage. While the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in pomegranate fruit were significantly enhanced with 1.5 kV/cm treatment compared to control, Guaiacol peroxidase (G-POX) levels in the control group increased steadily and were highest at the end of the storage. Although the results obtained from 3 kV/cm treatment were acceptable till the end of the first month, due to oxidative damage of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in response to HVEF stress, their results come close to the control group at the end of the second month. These data suggest that the optimum electric field intensity for enhancing antioxidant contents in stored pomegranate fruits was 1.5 kV/cm.