DEVELOPMENT OF DEHYDRATED KARCHIKAI (MOMARDICA CYMBALARIA)

Given its medicinal importance and the lack of commercially available preservation techniques or products, the present study aimed to standardize a drying method for M. cymbalaria (karchikai).The research was conducted at the Department of Postharvest Management, College of Horticulture, Bagalkot, Karnataka, during 2023-24.The study examined the drying kinetics, as well as the physicochemical and biochemical properties of M. cymbalaria powder under various drying methods.The freeze-dried (D 1 ) samples exhibited highest drying time (64 hours), lowest moisture content (6.43%), lowest water activity (0.24), highest rehydration ratio (2.96), highest wettability time (46.40 seconds) and the highest ascorbic acid content (265.43 mg/100g).