Abstract:
The aim of this work was to study the effect of drying temperature and storage period on antioxidant activity of roselle. Total phenolics and anthocyanins content in fresh roselle calyx were 74.59 mg gallic acid equivalent per g roselle (db) and 11.5 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside per g roselle (db). Antioxidant expressed as DPPH radical scavenging activity and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power were 15.24 mg ascorbic acid per g roselle (db) and 272.67 mmol trolox per g roselle (db). The effect of drying temperature on drying rate of roselle was studied. Four drying temperature of hot air (55, 60, 65 and 70 °C) were used. The results showed that increasing drying temperature led to an increase in drying rate. Methanol extracts of dried roselle (9% wb) was analysed; the result showed that the roselle dried at 60 °C contained the highest total phenolics content, total anthocyanins and antioxidant activity compared to that dried at other temperatures (p≤0.05). In hot water extract, the result showed that the tea from roselle dried at 60 °C also had the highest total phenolics content, total anthocyanins and antioxidant activity compared to that dried at other temperatures (p≤0.05). Antioxidant activity of methanol extracts from dried roselle at 55, 60 and 65 °C during storage period (1, 70 and 140 days) was studied. At the same storage period, the roselle dried at 60 °C had the highest total phenolics content, total anthocyanins and antioxidant activity compared to that dried at other temperatures (p≤0.05). With increasing storage period, antioxidant activity of roselle dried at each temperature appeared to decrease. The reduction of antioxidant activity followed the same trend as the reduction of total phenolics and anthocyanins contents. Antioxidant activity of roselle tea dried at 55, 60 and 65 °C during storage period (1, 21, 42, 63, 84, 105, 126, 147 and 168 days) was also studied. At the same storage period, the tea from roselle dried at 60 °C had the highest total phenolics content, total anthocyanins and antioxidant activity compared to that dried at other temperatures (p≤0.05). With increasing storage period, antioxidant activity of roselle tea dried at each temperature appeared to decrease. The reduction of antioxidant activity followed the same trend as observed in the reduction of total phenolics and anthocyanins contents.