POST HARVEST EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT CONCENTRATION OF MUSA PARADISIACA (LINN) ACROSS WEEK

Plantain as a climacteric fruit despite its importance in the economic and the health benefits it provide is greatly affected by post harvesting physiological activities like temperature, ripening e.t.c that influences their their nutritional and functional quality. The study evaluated the antioxidant properties of Musa paradisiaca on a weekly basis after harvesting in order to determine the effect of storage time on its bioactive compounds. In this research, a freshly harvested plantain was identified, then four fingers (pulp) was collected from the bunch. It was peeled, sliced thinly, dried using dehydrator, blend into powdering form and stored in an air tight container at week 0. The remaining plantain in the bundle was kept in the room temperature. The same procedure was repeated after 7 days (week 1), 14 days (week 2) using the fingers from the same bunch. Antioxidant assays such as ABTS assay (2,2’- Azinobis (3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulfonic acid), total phenol and total flavonoids were carried out on the samples following established protocols. Data obtained were majorly analyzed. Results revealed significant variations in antioxidant activities across the weeks of post harvesting. Plantain at week 0 has significantly higher total flavonoid than of week 1 and week 2, where it has a significantly higher ABTS scavenging property at week 1 than of week 0 and week 2. It can then be informed that Musa parasidiaca has a unique antioxidant properties that is more prominent within the very first week of harvesting i.e. week 0 to week 1. The first is therefore recommend for consumption at this period of number one week after harvesting for maximal antioxidant benefits.