Chapter 8: Digital Images Assisted by Chemometrics to Verify Shelf-life of PANC Leaves Check Access

Ora-pro-nobis (Pereskia aculeata Mill) is an unconventional food plant that has been gaining the attention of the scientific community due to its relevant nutritional value in terms of proteins, minerals, fibers, and mucilaginous substances that can replace eggs in food preparations, an interesting characteristic for consumers with food allergies or dietary restrictions. However, research into the shelf life of ora-pro-nobis leaves is necessary to improve and make its commercialization viable. Digital images for food quality assessment have increased due to their inherent advantages over conventional methods, such as non-destructive and non-invasive measurements and environmentally friendly applications. Therefore, this work uses digital images and analysis of the main components to investigate the conservation of ora-pro-nobis leaves over time (washed and unwashed leaves before packaging). The scores suggest that unwashed leaves are suitable for commercialization within three days after cutting and washed leaves for five days. Furthermore, it can be indicated that the chlorophyll content of the leaves was reduced over the days of storage, and the loadings showed that the red channel, where chlorophyll absorbs around 15 500 cm⁻¹, was the most crucial variable for the results achieved.