Abstract:

To develop natural herbal antistaling agents, the fresh-keeping effects of separate ethanol extracts of Ginkgo biloba L., Lonicera maackii [Rupr.] Herder (honeysuckle), Taraxacum mongolicum and Cinnamomum cassia Presl on eggs were investigated. Eggs were immersed in the above extracts for 5 min, dried, sealed in bags and stored at 25 ℃ and relative humidity 50% － 70%. The quality of the eggs was periodically evaluated by sensory evaluation and the determination of some physicochemical indexes during storage. The results showed that honeysuckle extract had the best fresh-keeping effect and the percentage of fresh egg was 100% after 35 days of storage, with weight losing rate 2.67%, yolk index 0.358, the content of dense albumen 55.65%, Haugh unit 50.247, and the height of air chamber 2.13 mm.

Key words: eggs, honeysuckle, medicinal and edible plants, ethanol extract