Scientific Study

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ultrasound-assisted osmotic dehydration on texture, retention of bioactive compounds, nutritional quality and metabolites of plum. The osmotic dehydration was performed using 50% glucose and sucrose in ultrasound (25 kHz) for 30 and 60 min. After osmotic treatment samples were dried at 55 °C using hot air oven. In this study, the texture of the sample was determined by 20% compression of texture profile analysis and solute diffusion coefficient was calculated by Fick's law of diffusion. Further, the volatile compound and nutritional quality were determined. Furthermore, treatment difference of osmo-dehydrated plum on metabolites was measured by 1H NMR. The results showed that the ultrasound-assisted osmotic dehydration increased water loss and solid gain. It also increases the reduction of moisture content from the plum. Textural result of osmo-dehydrated plum in glucose increases the softness of plum and decreases hardness. Moreover, the increased antioxidant and phenolics were obtained in plum treated in 50% sucrose for 30 and 60 min and also at 30 min of glucose. Color of ultrasound-assisted osmotic dehydrated plum was also affected by treatment time and the osmotic solution used. Ultrasound-assisted osmotic dehydration reveals that water loss, solid gain, texture and bioactive compounds affected by treatment time and osmotic solution.