Nano-ZnO/carboxymethyl cellulose-based active coating impact on ready-to-use pomegranate during cold storage

- Ready-to-use or minimally processed pomegranate undergo rapid deterioration.
- Nano-ZnO treatment reduce microbial load and growth on aril surface.
- Coatings reduce weight loss and maintain the overall quality of pomegranate arils.

Minimally processed pomegranate rapidly loses its overall quality because of high water loss and microbial contamination. Nano-ZnO in combination with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) coating was used on pomegranate arils. Arils were dipped for 4 min in distilled water (control), 0.1 or 0.2% (w/v) nano-ZnO suspension and then ZnO treated arils were coated with 0.5% (w/v) CMC and stored for 12 days at 4 °C. Coatings decreased total yeast + mold during 12 days of storage while total mesophilic bacteria was decreased during 6 days of storage. Coatings decreased weight loss and also the greatest juice percent was in coated arils. Soluble solids content decreased during storage with no significant difference between treatments. CMC + 0.2% nano-ZnO suppressed total phenol changes. Total anthocyanin, vitamin C, and antioxidant capacity were higher in coated arils. These findings suggest that nano-ZnO + CMC coating has the potential to extend minimally processed pomegranate storage life.