Indian Journal of Horticulture

The present investigations were carried out to find the effect of different storage temperatures and durationson retention of total carotenoids and antioxidant activities of dried marigold flower petals in varieties Pusa Arpita of Tagetes patula L., Pusa basanti Gainda and Pusa Narangi Gainda of Tagetes erecta L. The results revealed that vacuum dried petals of varieties, namely Pusa Arpita, Pusa Narangi Gainda and Pusa basanti Gainda recorded the highest content of carotenoids (952.78, 1923.94 and 119.75 mg/100 g DW), lutein (220.48, 205.26 and 65.87 μg/g DW), β carotene (14.61, 11.68 and 3.86 μg/g DW), total phenolic content (46.50, 45.48and 63.34 mg GAE/g DW), total flavonoid content (30.85, 29.32 and 31.28 mg GAE/g DW) and antioxidant activities {FRAP (430.59, 595.29 and 509.57 μmol FeSO₄/g DW) and DPPH (49.28, 59.73 and 51.30%)} after 60days of storage temperature at-20°C, respectively followed by 4°C and lowest content was observed in driedmarigold flower petals stored at ambient temperature. It was also revealed from the studies that carotenoids, total phenolic content, total flavonoids and antioxidant activities were found decreased during storage at all the temperatures. The retention of carotenoids and their antioxidant activities was found to be high in vacuum dried petals stored at-20°C. Among varieties, Pusa Narangi Gainda of African marigold retained better carotenoidsand antioxidant activities after 60 days of storage at-20°C.