## 3 Results and Discussion
### Health-Related Quality
From Table 2, the concentrations of lutein and \(\beta\)-carotene estimated in fresh-untreated purple carrots on day 0 (i.e., 0.23 mg E\(\beta\)C g\({}^{-1}\) DW and 4.87 mg E\(\beta\)C g\({}^{-1}\) DW, respectively) are in accordance with data described for dark carrot cultivars [42,43]. A comparison among the samples revealed, in general, a similar trend for individual carotenoids as that of TCC. Fresh-untreated purple carrots on day 21 exhibited an increase in lutein and \(\beta\)-carotene with respect to fresh samples on day 0 (i.e., 0.68 and 28.16 mg E\(\beta\)C g\({}^{-1}\) DW on day 21 vs. 0.23 and 4.87 mg E\(\beta\)C g\({}^{-1}\) DW on day 0). Also, MJ-treated carrots did not show significant (\(p<0.05\)) differences in the content of lutein and \(\beta\)-carotene with respect to fresh-untreated samples on day 0 (i.e., 0.18 and 2.06 mg E\(\beta\)C g\({}^{-1}\) DW in MJ-treated vs. 0.23 and 4.87 mg E\(\beta\)C g\({}^{-1}\) DW in fresh samples on day 0). In contrast to the results on TCC, ABA-treated purple carrots unexpectedly showed lutein and \(\beta\)-carotene contents similar to those estimated in fresh-untreated samples on day 0 (i.e., 0.16 and 4.93 mg E\(\beta\)C g\({}^{-1}\) DW in ABA-treated vs. 0.23 and 4.87 mg E\(\beta\)C g\({}^{-1}\) DW in fresh samples on day 0). This is probably due to the determination of additional analytes other than carotenoids together with lutein and \(\beta\)-carotene in the TCC assay. Table 3 represents the antioxidant activity in terms of free radical scavenging activity, measured by DPPH assay, and the capacity to reduce ferric ion (Fe\({}^{3+}\)) to ferrous iron (Fe\({}^{2+}\)), measured by the FRAP assay. Data are expressed as mean values (n = 2) \(\pm\) SD. Different lowercase letters between purple carrot samples indicate differences at \(p<0.05\). Comparing fresh-untreated samples on day 0 with day 21, the free radical scavenging activity did not vary significantly (\(p>0.05\)) throughout the whole storage period (12.24 mg Trolox g\({}^{-1}\) DW vs. 12.71 mg Trolox g\({}^{-1}\) DW), whereas the ferric reducing power showed a significant (\(p<0.05\)) increase in the values obtained (17.57 mg Trolox g\({}^{-1}\) DW on day 0 vs. 30.03 mg Trolox g\({}^{-1}\) DW on day 21). DPPH values were directly related to TAC results. This indicates that anthocyanins were the main contributors to the free radical scavenging activity. From the results on fresh-untreated samples, it can be stated that the antioxidant activity of purple carrot root was not affected by the 21-day cold storage. Concerning the treated samples, no significant (\(p>0.05\)) differences were established between the treated samples and their corresponding controls, whatever the phytoregulatory. Furthermore, the application of both MJ and ABA resulted in a significant (\(p<0.05\)) decrease in the antioxidant activity as compared to fresh-untreated samples using either assay. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Carotenoids**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Fresh-Untreated**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**MJ Treatment**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**ABA Treatment**} \\ \cline{2-2} \cline{4-4}  & **On Day 0** & & & \\ \hline LUTEIN & & & & \\ (mgE\(\beta\)C g\({}^{-1}\) DW) & 0.23 \(\pm\) 0.01 a & 0.68 \(\pm\) 0.03 b & 0.18 \(\pm\) 0.01 a & 0.16 \(\pm\) 0.02 a \\ \hline \(\beta\)-CAROTENE & & & & \\ (mgE\(\beta\)C g\({}^{-1}\) DW) & 4.87 \(\pm\) 0.07 a & 28.16 \(\pm\) 0.10 b & 2.06 \(\pm\) 0.05 c & 4.93 \(\pm\) 0.09 a \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular} Different letters between samples in the same row indicate differences at \(p<0.05\).  
\end{table} 
Table 2: Caroenoid content by HPLC-DAD in fresh-untreated purple carrots and purple carrots treated with MJ and ABA.