水素水処理によるオクラ収穫後の軟化抑制と貯蔵寿命延長効果
This study examined how hydrogen-rich water (HRW) application affects postharvest okra, focusing on fruit firmness, cell wall composition, and the expression of cell wall-related genes during storage. HRW-treated okra maintained higher firmness compared to untreated controls. Compositional analysis revealed reduced water-soluble and chelate-soluble pectin fractions alongside elevated NaCO-soluble pectin, hemicellulose, and cellulose in treated fruit. At the early storage stage, genes responsible for pectin, hemicellulose, and cellulose biosynthesis were upregulated by HRW. Conversely, at later storage stages, expression of cell wall-degrading genes—including AePME, AeGAL, and AeCX—was downregulated. These findings indicate that HRW modulates cell wall anabolism and catabolism in a time-dependent manner, collectively delaying softening and prolonging the postharvest shelf life of okra.
HRW upregulates cell wall biosynthesis genes (pectin, hemicellulose, cellulose) early in storage and subsequently downregulates degradative genes including AePME, AeGAL, and AeCX, thereby preserving cell wall integrity and maintaining fruit firmness.
Hydrogen-rich water is a low-risk delivery route, but the achievable systemic hydrogen dose is bounded. For clinical applications, inhalation is the most efficient route; inhalation, however, carries explosion risk, and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10% applies to inhalation environments; high-concentration devices are documented in the Consumer Affairs Agency accident database and are not recommended).
See also:
https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/36037687