INHIBITION of APPLE POLYPHENOLOXIDASE (PPO) BY ASCORBIC ACID, CITRIC ACID and SODIUM CHLORIDE

The inhibiting effect of ascorbic acid, citric acid and sodium chloride on Polyphenoloxidase (PPO) of Golden Delicious apple cubes was studied. Dipping in ascorbic acid (0.2-10 g/L range) and in NaCl (0.2-1 g/L range) solutions for 5 min increases the PPO activity. Citric acid solutions (0.2-10 g/L range) have little or no inhibition of PPO. A 90-100% PPO inhibition was obtained with a 5 min dip in mixtures of ascorbic acid and citric acid (10 + 2 g/L), and of ascorbic acid and sodium chloride (10 + 0.5 g/L).