Effect of indirect cold plasma treatment on cashew apple juice (Anacardium occidentale L.)

•Indirect cold plasma treatments have been applied on cashew apple juice.•Vitamin C increased with the lowest N2 flow tested.•Sucrose content increased whilst glucose and fructose contents decreased.•Longer treatments promoted higher polyphenol content at highest N2 flow tested.

The effects of the application of indirect cold plasma treatment on vitamin C, polyphenol and flavonoid contents, antioxidant activity (FRAP, DPPH, ABTS) and sucrose, fructose and glucose contents of cashew apple juice (Anacardium occidentale L) have been studied. Treatments were carried out by using a benchtop plasma system and two operative variables were considered: N2 plasma flow rate (10, 30 and 50 mL/min) and treatment time (5, 10 and 15 min). The plasma treatment promoted an increment of the vitamin C, flavonoid and polyphenol content as well on the antioxidant activity. Overexposure to plasma resulted in a decrease of most bioactive compounds denoting the importance in optimizing the process conditions.