Effects of packaging materials and storage on total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of Centella asiatica drinks

The effects of packaging materials and storage time on total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of Centella asiatica drinks were studied. The total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were determined using Folin-Ciocalteau method and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay respectively. All analyses were carried out monthly for a period of one year for drinks packaged in high density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles, polypropylene (PP) bottles, standing pouches and cans, which were stored at ambient temperature (27 ± 5 °C, RH = 75–85%). The total phenolic content and antioxidant activity remained stable for the first month of storage regardless of the types of packaging materials used. Significant decrease (p 0.05) was noticed after 2 months storage. Drinks in cans had the greatest decrease, followed by drinks in PP bottles and HDPE bottles, while drinks in standing pouches gave the highest reading throughout the storage period