Prospects of Rhubarb Juice Production and Utilization

Abstract

The review is devoted to the nutritional significance and prospects of garden rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum L.) utilization in food industry. High yield of juice reaching 90% and the ability to complex rhubarb stems processing for juice production and pectin extraction from rhubarb stem pomace are empathized. Rhubarb stems pomace recorded up to 21-23 % of pectin, which is significantly higher than in natural industrial sources of pectin. Medicinal value of rhubarb juice is discussed: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, cardioprotective and anti-diabetic properties are indicated. Examples of high antioxidant content and unique organic acids composition of rhubarb juice are highlighted. Sorbic and benzoic acids are indicated as important components of juice widely used in food industry as food preservatives. Citric acid is shown to be the main component of rhubarb organic acids in spring. Special attention is paid to the non-waste production of juice thanks to the possibility of pomace processing for pectin recovery. Juice biochemical characteristics of four garden rhubarb cultivars (selection of Federal Scientific Center of Vegetable Production) are described: Udalets, Malakhit, Zaryanka and Krupnochereshkovy). Expediency of further selection on high anthocyanin content in rhubarb stems are empathized.