Moisture-dependent physicochemical characteristics and microstructure of karonda (Carissa carandas L.) fruit
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.6063Keywords:
chemical characteristics, color, Karonda, physical characteristicsAbstract
Karonda (Carissa carandas L.) fruits hold significant importance in traditional medicine due to its rich composition of "bioactive compounds" including anthocyanin, quercetin and tannins. It is abundant in antioxidants such as vitamin C, flavonoids and phenolic compounds and boasts anti-diabetic, hepato-protective and immune-boosting properties. The present study examined physico-chemical characteristics of karonda at different moisture levels (74 % to 82 %) due to their susceptibility to moisture content during processing. Moisture content of fruit at the time of harvest was found to be 77.99 ± 0.82 % (wet basis). Dimensional characteristics increased while sphericity and aspect ratio decreased with rise in moisture level. Average polar, equatorial and minor diameters ranged from 12.7 to 19.2 mm, 12.3 to 15.0 mm and 12.1 to 14.7 mm, respectively. Gravimetric properties, such as thousand fruit mass, bulk density, true density and porosity declined with decreasing moisture content. Frictional properties exhibited decrement with decreasing moisture level, indicating changes in the fruit's surface characteristics. The mean coefficients of friction for steel, plywood and rubber were 4.10, 3.8 and 3.36, respectively. Firmness decreased from 5.4 N to 1.9 N. Color attributes were affected by increased redness and colour intensity at higher moisture levels. Overall, the study underscores the necessity of understanding the moisture-dependent physical and chemical properties of karonda for optimizing fruit utilization in the form of value-added products.
Downloads
References
Saroj PL, Sarolia DK, Sharma BD. Seventy five years of research and development in arid fruit crops. Int J Innov Hortic. 2022;11(1):24–35. https://doi.org/10.5958/2582-2527.2022.00019.7
Singh S, Saxena AK. Studies on effect of cultivars and picking dates on shelf life of jelly prepared from karonda (Carissa carandas L.). Int J Curr Microbiol App Sci. 2019;8(06):2864–77. https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas
Kamble VP, Khandare VS, Jagtap VS, Bhosale AM, Gade KS, Surve VD. Processing strategies for improved stability and functional quality of karonda (Carissa carandas L.). J Pharmacogn Phytochem. 2023;12(6):170–6. https://doi.org/10.22271/phyto.2023.v.12.i6b.14780
Navya D V, Kukanoor L, Gorabal K, Bhat A, Jalawadi S. Studies on organoleptic qualities and colour (L* a* b*) values of Karonda (Carissa carandas L.) blended squash during storage. J Pharmacogn Phytochem. 2020;9(6):994–7. http://www.phytojournal.com
Krishna H, Chauhan N, Sharma BD. Evaluation of karonda (Carissa carandus L.) derived natural colourant cum nutraceuticals-supplement. Int J Minor Fruits, Med Aromat Plants. 2017;3(2):28–33.
Kerkar SP, Patil S, S. S A, Dabade A, Sonawane SK. Limonia acidissima: versatile and nutritional fruit of India. Int J Fruit Sci. 2020;20(2):S405–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/15538362.2020.1737302
Sharma B, Patidar J, Pachauri DR, Tripathy S. Contribution of minor fruits crops to household nutritional security and health for rural population. Int J Chem Stud. 2019;7(3):2942–9.
Pathak SS, Pradhan RC, Mishra S. Mass modeling of Belleric Myrobalan and its physical characterization in relation to post-harvest processing and machine designing. J Food Sci Technol. 2020;57:1290–300. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-019-04162-1
Deshmukh PS, Swami SB. Moisture dependent physical properties of jackfruit seed. Int J Food Ferment Technol. 2022;12(2):97–106. https://doi.org/10.30954/2277-9396.02.2022.4
Azman PNMA, Shamsudin R, Che MH, Ya’acob ME. Mass modelling of pepper berries (Piper nigrum L.) with some physical properties. Food Res. 2021;5:80–4. https://doi.org/10.26656/fr.2017.5(S1).047
Aaqib M, Singh C, Kumar H. Computation of design-related engineering properties and fracture resistance of plum ( Prunus domestica ) kernels to compressive loading. J Agric Food Res. 2021;3:100101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2021.100101
Mohsenin NN. Physical properties of plant and animal materials. Routledge. 2020.
Pawar KR, Nema PK, Babar OA, Yadav DK. Effect of moisture content on engineering characteristics of apricot ( Prunus armeniaca L.) kernel. J Food Process Eng. 2023;46(7). https://doi.org/10.1111/jfpe.14344
Adedeji MA, Sanni LA, Adesanya OS, Adesina IK, Chikezie AO. Determination of physical and mechanical properties of neem (Azadirachta indica a. juss) fruits that enhances depulping. Int J Eng Technol Res. 2020;19(5):271–86.
Abera D, Zerihun M, Yenasew A. Effect of variety and agro-ecology on physio-chemical and organoleptic quality of avocado fruit grown in Ethiopia. Cogent Food Agric. 2023;9(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2023.2273637
Marçal S, Sousa S, Araújo-Rodrigues H, Silva I V., Campos DA, Pintado M. Impact of washing and freezing on nutritional composition, bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity and microstructure of mango peels. Food Chem. 2024;442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.138368
Sessiz A. Physical properties of some green olive cultivarse physical properties of some green olive cultivars. 2016.
Djouab A, Benamara S, Gougam H, Amellal H, Hidous K. Physical and antioxidant properties of two Algerian date fruit species ( Phoenix dactylifera L. and Phoenix canariensis L.). 2016;28(9):601–8. https://doi.org/10.9755/ejfa.2015-12-1056
Barbhuiya RI, Nath D, Singh SK, Dwivedi M. Mass modeling of indian coffee plum (Flacourtia Jangomas) fruit with its physicochemical properties. Int J Fruit Sci. 2020;20(3):1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/15538362.2020.1775161
Lufu R. Transport phenomena in Pomegranate Fruit: Mechanisms of weight loss and control strategies. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University; 2020.
Cristina M, María A. Effect of moisture content on engineering properties of sorghum grains. gric Eng Int CIGR J. 2018;19(2):200-09. http://www.cigrjournal.org
Mohammed WAE-MMa, Mahmoud RK, Eissa AS. Determining of some physical and mechanical properties for designing tomato fruits cutting machine. Agric Eng Int CIGR J. 2022;24(4).
Gomathy K, Balakrishnan M, Thirupathi V. Moisture dependent physical properties of multiplier onion (Allium cepa L. var. aggregatum). J Agric Eng. 2017;54(1):44–51. https://doi.org/10.52151/jae2017541.1620
Gupta S V, Wankhade VR, Patil BN, Nimkar PM. Physico-mechanical properties of sapota ( Achras sapota L .). 2015;17(3):225–9. https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2015.v17i03.43
Akar G, Barutçu Maz? I. Color change, ascorbic acid degradation kinetics, and rehydration behavior of kiwifruit as affected by different drying methods. J Food Process Eng. 2019;42(3):e13011. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfpe.13011
Konarska A. Differences in the structure of fruit buds in two apple cultivars with particular emphasis on features responsible for fruit storability and quality. Acta Sci Pol Hortorum Cultus. 2014;13(5).
Adeniyi AG, Abdulkareem SA, Ighalo JO, Onifade D V. Utilisation of waste plantain (Musa Paradisiaca) peels and waste polystyrene in the development of reinforced polymer composites. Int Polym Process. 2020;35(3):331–7. https://doi.org/10.3139/217.3908
Huang H, Wang L. Alteration of surface morphologies and chemical composition of cuticle in response to chilling injury in papaya (Carica papaya L.) after harvest. Food Chem. 2023;416:135751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.135751

Downloads
Published
Versions
- 01-04-2025 (2)
- 10-03-2025 (1)
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Kumari Nisha, Balakrishnan Murugesan, Ramalakshmi Alaguthevar, Pandiarajan Thirupathi, Muthuvel Iyyamperumal, Ravikumar Rajagounder, Udaykumar Nidoni

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright and Licence details of published articles
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Open Access Policy
Plant Science Today is an open access journal. There is no registration required to read any article. All published articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC Attribution 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).