Vol. 12, Issue 10 (2023)

Author(s):
MS Pinjarkar, Dr. GD Shirke, Dr. JH Kadam and SR Dhage

Abstract:
Zanthoxylum rhetsa (Triphal) is an underutilized spice tree widely used by tribal healers for many years. To study the effect of different packaging materials on physico-chemical parameters of Zanthoxylum rhetsa during storage at ambient tem- perature, different packaging viz. Gunny bag (Control), LDPE bags, HDPE bags, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) jars, Aluminium pouches lined with polyethylene, shrink packaging, CFB boxes, Woven bags and brown paper bags were used. After packing the samples were stored at ambient temperature and the samples were analysed for both physico-chemical qualities at regular intervals of 2 months for a year. The decrease in essential oil, sabinene and terpenen-4-ol content was observed during storage along with a decrease in alcohol soluble extractive and water-soluble extractive. Other factors such as moisture, PLW, and size remained the same. PET bottles could be used to store Zanthoxylum rhetsa upto 12 months at ambient condition. The moisture content of the Z. rhetsa at the end of storage period was 12.236%. The physiological loss in weight was maintained through the storage period with an average of 2.22%. The physico-chemical factors like essential oil was 1.301%, sabinene was 14.260%, and terpenen-4-ol was 31.056% at 12 months. The ash percent 7.410%, acid insoluble ash 0.156%, alcohol soluble extractive 11.460% and the water soluble extractive 12.893%. The fruit size (diameter in mm) was 7.596 mm and colour value L* (16.461) a* (11.243), b* (15.424) was observed. Yeast and mould growth was observed 0.183 cfu/g−1 at 12 months in PET.