Ozone (O3) enhances the storability and antioxidant quality of fresh American ginseng

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the effects of ozone (O3) treatment on the storage quality and antioxidant capacity of American ginseng. Fresh American ginseng was stored at 0 °C and at O3 concentrations of 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/L for 120 d. Samples were collected every 20 d for analysis of quality parameters, antioxidant system-related substances, and enzyme activities, and correlations between these parameters were analyzed. The results showed that O3 treatment effectively improved the storage performance and quality retention of fresh American ginseng, maintained the balance of the antioxidant system, and thus slowed the trend of membrane lipid peroxidation. Compared with the control, the 0.5 mg/L O3 treatment maintained higher L* value, moisture content, and texture characteristics, inhibited the increase in the decay index, and inhibited the depletion of active substances such as polysaccharides and saponins. Furthermore, O3 treatment increased flavonoid content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) while decreasing catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activities, DPPH· and ABTS+ scavenging rates, reactive oxygen species (ROS: O2−· and H2O2), and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. High-concentration O3 (1.0 mg/L) treatment promoted the production of ROS during storage from day 0 to day 40. In conclusion, O3 treatment can enhance the antioxidant capacity of American ginseng, thereby effectively maintaining its quality and extending its storage life.