EFFECT OF DRYING TEMPERATURE ON PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND BIOACTIVE COMPONENTS OF BEETROOT (Beta vulgaris)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of drying temperature on the bioactive components and physicochemical characteristics of beetroot dried at various temperatures. Beetroot was purchased and pretreated with sorting, cleaning, and cutting procedures. It was then dried in a cabinet dryer at 50°C, 55°C, 60°C, 65°C and 70°C until the weight of the beetroot was constant. The dried beetroot was then powdered and then sieved through 40 mesh size to a fine consistency. Both fresh and dried samples were examined for the bioactive components, such as antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, betalain content and total tannin content, and physicochemical properties such as bulk density, solubility, oil absorption capability, and swelling capacity, were also evaluated. The results demonstrated a significant decline in bioactive components as beetroot underwent drying at progressively increasing temperatures. However, drying at 50°C revealed a smaller loss of bioactive components as compared to other temperatures. Reduction in the concentration of bioactive components was noted, corresponding with the increasing temperature. In comparison between fresh sample to 70°C sample, the TPC, TFC, AA, TTC, and betalain content all dropped by 63%, 44%, 16%, 74% and 54%, respectively. Acording to analyses of this study for physicochemical attributes, higher temperatures improved the bulk density, oil absorption capacity, swelling capacity, and solubility index of beetroot powder. All of the study's sample analyses revealed that the lower temperature drying i.e at 50°C, retained more bioactive components.