High-pressure-treated tomato puree was investigated for changes in carotenoid extractability, antioxidant
activity, glucose diffusion, and water binding. No effect of pressurization was observed in the total concentrations
of the main water-insoluble antioxidants, lycopene and b-carotene, extracted with tetrahydrofuran, but lower
recovery of carotenoids with petroleum ether suggested structural changes in the tomato pulp tissue, due to processing.
Total antioxidant capacity of the water-soluble fraction was unchanged immediately after pressure treatment,
but was better preserved during 21 d at 4 °C, compared with untreated samples. High-pressure treatment resulted
also in enhanced water binding. Glucose diffusion through dialysis tubing was lower after high-pressure treatment,
leading to a higher glucose retardation index.