The profile of polyphenol and carotenoid of peach were analysed on fresh fruits, immediately after
freezing or after pasteurization, and during frozen storage at 20 C for 360 days. Freezing did not affect
the concentration of polyphenols or carotenoids. Pasteurization of fresh and frozen samples induced an
increase in the extractability of chlorogenic acid (38% and 24%) and of zeaxanthin (336% and 127%) and a
decrease of lutein (22% and 56%) and b-cryptoxanthin (32 and 51%).
Total antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content changed by less than 20% after frozen storage for
360 d. However, total carotenoid content decreased 41% and 48% in unpasteurized and pasteurized
samples, after the same storage period. Long term storage induced an increase in the extractability of
(þ)-catechin (47%) and zeaxanthin (90%) and a decrease in neochlorogenic acid (59%), chlorogenic acid
(39%), quercetin-3-glucoside (21%), lutein (24%) and b-cryptoxanthin (40%). Pasteurization of frozen
samples promoted a decrease in the concentration of neochlorogenic acid (91%), chlorogenic acid (87%)
and quercetin-3-rutinoside (71%) and increase in lutein (16%), b-cryptoxanthin (42%) and b-carotene
(31%).
Peach should be stored for periods no longer than 230 d, since pasteurization after that, induced a
higher decrease in neochlorogenic, chlorogenic acids and quercetin-3-rutinoside content