Nanoemulsions containing Turmeric extract were fabricated using ultrasonication (US) system and their physicochemical properties were characterized by mean droplet size, size distribution, zeta potential, and morphology. Turmeric was firstly extracted using 50% ethanol with heating and concentrated to increase the solid content. The final curcumin content in the concentrated turmeric extract was 10.4 mg/mL. Medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil was selected as an oil phase by the solubility test. Turmeric extract-loaded nanoemulsions (TE-NEs) were prepared with oil phase containing lecithin and water phase containing tween 80 by ultrasonication treatment. The mean droplet size of TE-NEs was significantly decreased with ultrasonication time and ranged from 66 nm to 279 nm. The optimum HLB (hydrophilic lipophilic balance) value was 10.6 which decided to obtain the smallest droplet size and the highest zeta potential of TE-NEs. TE-NEs showed good storage stability at 4°C for 30 days without any phase separation and significant change of both mean droplet size and zeta potential. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images support that the droplet of TE-NEs was individually spherical shape and not aggregated or agglomerated until the TE concentration was less than 500% (w/w MCT oil).

As an alternative to chemical fumigation using reagents such as methyl bromide, sweet persimmon was treated with γ-irradiation with the aim of extending the export of persimmon to countries with strict quarantine requirements. 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) was also employed to prevent the loss of persimmon quality, as treatment by γ-irradiation can cause changes in the firmness and color of the fruit, in addition to physiological injuries. The persimmon quality was assessed at 25℃ over a defined period of retail display following long term cold storage for 60 and 90 day. The persimmon firmness was significantly (p<0.05) decreased following γ-irradiation and display at 25℃ over 2 day, but was dramatically reduced after 3 day display and 60 day cold storage. Although irradiation increased the respiration rate of persimmon after long term storage, it was not significantly (p>0.05) altered at the doses employed herein. In contrast, 1-MCP treatment significantly (p<0.05) improved the persimmon firmness from 1.1 N to 6.0-20.6 N after γ-irradiation treatment and 3 day display and little change in the skin color was observed compared to the untreated samples. The rate of flesh softening was also significantly reduced following 1-MCP treatment.