Browning Inhibition Effect of the Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba Extract and L-cysteine Combination on Agaricus bisporus

This study investigated that anti-browning effects of Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba extract and L-cysteine combination. Mushrooms were dipped in solutions (0.1% Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba extract containing 0.05% L-cysteine) for 3 min. The dipped mushrooms were packaged in a polystyrene (PS) tray and wrapped with a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film, and stored for 14 days at . The browning inhibition activity (Hunter L, a, b color scale and tyrosinase inhibition activity) and quality changes (weight loss rate, gas composition, firmness and sensory evaluation) were analyzed during storage period. After 14 days, the Hunter L and value of mushrooms treated in 0.1% Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba extract containing 0.05% L-cysteine were 87.24 and 5.56, respectively. The mushrooms treated with 0.1% Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba extract containing 0.05% L-cysteine also showed higher firmness (13.31 N) and smaller weight loss rate (2.87%) than the untreated mushroom (11.42 N, 3.04%) on storage day 14. During storage period, the sensory evaluation showed that overall acceptability of mushrooms treated with 0.1% Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba extract containing 0.05% L-cysteine were higher than those of the untreated mushrooms, except those that were stored for five days. Overall, the mushrooms treated with 0.1% Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba extract containing 0.05% L-cysteine had a higher tyrosinase inhibition activity than the untreated mushrooms during storage period. This study suggests that the browning of the mushrooms treated with 0.1% Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba extract containing 0.05% L-cysteine solution were inhibited, and the that their shelf life was extended.