PROCESS WITH A HIGH HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE FOR THE ACCUMULATION OF MICRONUTRIENTS IN FOOD OF PLANT ORIGIN.

摘要

The present invention is related to the process with high hydrostatic pressures of food of plant origin that accumulates carotenoids with the purpose of increasing the phytonutrients content. The process consists in applying a treatment with high hydrostatic pressure at pressures ranging from 50 to 200 MPa for 30-60 minutes and a subsequent storage of the food ranging from 2 to 4 days. The inventive process generates oxidative stress (production of H2O2 and MDA) in the pressurized cells, without damaging the metabolic capacity thereof (the ribosomal RNA remains intact). The fact of exposing the cells of the tissue of food of plant origin to the pressurization stress and subsequent storage promotes changes in the gene and protein expression of the photochemical production metabolism and increases the concentration of at least one of the phytochemicals related to the oxidative stress response. The pressurization process of the invention increases in 1000% the concentration of lycopene w ith regard to the control stored for 2 days.