Edición Bianual
Marzo - agosto 2024
DOI
ISSN
3091-180X
Vol. 2, No.3, PP.6-17
Palabras clave
Frutas climatéricas, compuestos bioactivos, antioxidantes, fenoles, temperatura, calor
ABSTRACT
Climacteric fruits, such as banana, apple and mango, are those that continue to ripen
after being harvested. During this process, they experience significant changes in their
color, texture, flavor and aroma due to a series of chemical reactions, such as increased
production of ethylene, a plant hormone that regulates ripening. Despite being harvested,
these fruits continue to ripen, which poses challenges for their conservation. One of the
innovative approaches to improve the shelf life and nutritional quality of climacteric
fruits is the application of heat treatments. The main objective of these studies is to
understand how heat or other heat treatments affect phytochemical compounds, such as
antioxidants, present in fruits. To this end, a documentary review has been carried out
using various scientific databases such as Scopus, Web of Science and Scielo. The
results of recent research indicate that heat treatments, such as blanching or the use of
hot water, can have positive effects on the conservation of fruits. It has been observed
that these treatments not only prolong the shelf life of fruits, but can also increase the
amount of bioactive compounds, such as antioxidants. This is due to the rupture of plant
cells caused by heat, which releases a greater amount of health-beneficial compounds.
In conclusion, heat treatments applied to climacteric fruits not only help to preserve
their quality, but also enhance their nutritional properties. The increase in bioactive
compounds, such as antioxidants, could be related to cell rupture or to processes such as
the Maillard reaction, which occurs during the application of heat. This opens up new
possibilities to improve the conservation and nutritional value of fruits.
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Keywords
Climacteric fruits, bioactive compounds, antioxidants, phenols, temperature, heat
INTRODUCCIÓN
Los alimentos albergan una amplia variedad de compuestos bioactivos, que son tanto
numerosos como químicamente diversos. En particular, las frutas y verduras son ricas
fuentes de elementos nutricionales fundamentales, como vitaminas y minerales. Además,
contienen compuestos fenólicos, fitoestrógenos, compuestos azufrados, monoterpenos y
péptidos bioactivos (1). Además, menciona que las frutas y verduras exhiben una alta
gama de componentes funcionales, entre los que se incluyen fitoquímicos. En una sola
porción de fruta o verdura, es posible encontrar alrededor de 100 compuestos diferentes
(2).
Las pautas nutricionales resaltan la importancia de integrar frutas y verduras en la dieta
diaria, enfocándose en los beneficios para la salud derivados de las moléculas nutritivas
bioactivas, como nutrientes, vitaminas, minerales y fibras. Asimismo, se subraya la
valiosa presencia de fitoquímicos no nutritivos en estos alimentos, como compuestos
fenólicos, flavonoides y péptidos bioactivos (2). Estos elementos, ya sean nutritivos o
no, desempeñan un papel esencial en la promoción de la salud, enfatizando la necesidad
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