The present study was conducted to evaluate effect of ethephon and acetylene treatments on phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity of banana flesh and their bioaccessibility. Total phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP) were measured at different phases of simulated gastrointestinal digestion of banana treated with 1000 ppm ethephon and 1000 ppm acetylene against natural ripening. The results revealed that inducing ripening lowers the content of phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity considerably in the fresh fruit. Bioavailability of phenolics, flavonoids and FRAP activity were increased significantly (p < 0.05) after gastric digestion regardless of the treatment. The release of polyphenols and flavonoids during gastric digestion in treated banana was more significant than in naturally ripened banana. Recovery of polyphenols after dialysis was significantly high in naturally ripened banana. Dialyzable flavonoids, DPPH and ABTS activities of dialyzed fractions were not significantly affected by ethephon or acetylene treatments.

Keywords: Antioxidant activity; Artificial ripening; Banana; Gastro-intestinal digestion; Polyphenols.