Effect of pretreatment conditions on quality characteristics and antioxidant activity in pak choi (Brassica rapa L. ssp. chinensis)

This study evaluated the impact of blanching pak choi stems and leaves in various solutions (distilled water, 2% NaCl, and 2% citric acid) at 100°C on their quality characteristics. The highest stem heating loss was observed in the sodium chloride solution (S-NB) at 15.10% (p<0.001), and the highest leaf heating loss was in L-NB at 11.44% (p<0.001). No significant variation was found in the moisture content of both stems and leaves. Relative to the control, the L value (lightness) of the stem decreased while the b value (yellowness) increased (p<0.05). In the leaves, the a value (redness/greenness) and b value increased in L-CB, whereas they decreased in other groups (p<0.05). S-NB exhibited the highest true retention (TR) of total polyphenol content (TPC) in stems (p<0.01) and the highest TR of total flavonoid content (TFC) as well (p<0.001). For leaves, the highest TR of TPC and TFC was in L-WB (p<0.001). In terms of antioxidant activity, S-NB in stems and L-WB in leaves showed the highest scavenging activity measured by DPPH and ABTS+ assays (p<0.001). Microorganisms were absent in all pretreatment groups but present in the control. The results suggest that blanching pak choi stems in 2% NaCl solution and leaves in water optimally preserves biologically active compounds and nutrients.