Effects of roasting conditions on physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities in Ginkgo biloba seeds.

The roasting treatment has been used to extend the shelf life of food and improves its quality, and eliminate or reduce toxic. In this study, we investigate the changes in the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities of Ginkgo biloba seeds (GBS) according to the roasting temperature and duration. As the roasting temperature and duration increased, the pH (from 7.32 to 6.31) and total cyanide content (from 1.49 to 0.70 µg/g) decreased, whereas the titratable acidity (from 0.39 to 0.84%) increased. The antioxidant activities increased rapidly at 210 °C according to the increase in the roasting temperature and duration. The 4'-O-methylpyridoxine (MPN) content in the 210 °C heat treatment group decreased by more than 70% compared to the MPN content in the control group. These results suggest that heat-treated GBS could be used in food materials and medicines for decreasing cyanide and MPN contents as well as for increasing antioxidant compound contents.