Effect of safe phytochemicals coating on postharvest loss and Shelf-Life of starfruit (Averrhoa carambola)-A fruits of medicinal values.

Fruits are important sources of vitamins and minerals and play an important role in improving nutritional status of human beings. This study was conducted to investigate the potential of phytochemical extracts on extending the shelf-life of harvested carambola fruits, and to determine which phytochemical extracts can best enhance its shelflife. The freshly harvested Carambola(Averrhoa carambola L.) fruits were coated with two safe phytochemicals like Aloe vera and Bryophyllum pinnatum and stored at ambient condition. To evaluate the pretreatment with phytochemical coating on Carambola fruits the Aloe vera coating showed an encouraging result with respect to biological properties when compared with fruits coated wth Bryophyllum pinnatum.