Quality Characteristics of Blackberry Powder obtained by Various Drying Methods

다양한 건조방법에 따른 블랙베리 분말의 품질 특성

This experiment was carried out to enhance the availability of blackberry. Since it is difficult to use blackberry as a fresh fruit, we investigated the quality characteristics of blackberry powder obtained by various drying methods (freeze drying and hot-air drying at $40{\sim}80^{\circ}C$). The L- and b-values of freeze-dried powder was higher than hot-air dried powder. The pH (3.2) was lowest and the acidity (14.4%) was highest in freeze-dried powder. In freeze drying, the brix degree was $65.7^{\circ}Bx$, but it increased from $54.7^{\circ}Bx$ to $68.5^{\circ}Bx$ with increasing temperature during hot air drying. The total polyphenol and flavonoids contents were the highest in freeze-dried powder, at 9.3 and 6.2 mg/g, respectively. The levels increased as temperature increased in hot air drying. Anthocyanin content in freeze-dried powder was 8.51 mg/g, while it sharply decreased to 1.17~2.45 mg/g in hot-air drying. Vitamin C content in freeze drying ($979.4{\mu}g/g$) was higher than that in hot-air drying ($48.3{\sim}303.2{\mu}g/g$). The sample concentration required for 50% reduction of DPPH free radical scavenging ($RC_{50}$) was $79.7{\mu}g/mL$ in freeze drying, and showed high antioxidant activity. Also it decreased from $122.4{\mu}g/mL$ to $87.7{\mu}g/mL$ with temperature increase during hot air drying. We therefore conclude from the above results that freeze drying is more suitable for the production of blackberry powder, because this method showed high value of chromaticity, total polyphenol, flavonoid, anthocyanin content, vitamin C and antioxidant activity.