Bioprospecting Augmented Production of Neutraceutically Rich Karonda (Carissa carandus Linn) by Osmotic Dehydration using Response Surface Methodology

Karonda (Carissa carandus Linn) is hardy, indigenous shrub with spines, generally used as bio fence around orchards. It bears small berry like edible fruits with higher nutraceutical value. Mature fruits of karonda are sour and astringent with immense bioactive compounds. Optimization was carried out with Central Composite Design (CCD) for standardizing processing conditions of osmotically dehydrated karonda fruit with respect to three variables viz. sugar concentration (50-70 °Brix), immersion time (1-4 hours) and temperature (35-45 °C) for three responses viz. rehydration ratio, water loss and solute gain. The optimized values for osmotic dehydration of karonda were obtained as 59.81 °Brix, time of 3.58 h and temperature of 44.10 °C with water loss (g/100 g), solute gain (g/100 g) and rehydration ratio as 30.33, 9.19 and 2.60 respectively.