Keeping in mind the growing need for alternative bionutrition resources, some mangrove fruits are popularized for their edible and medicinal properties. Nutritional and antioxidant point of view, there is no concrete report on mangrove fruits. Therefore, the present study was attempted to assess nutritional parameters viz. moisture, protein, total sugar, reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar, carotenoid, fiber, ash and ascorbic acid in mangrove fruits of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Rhizophora apiculata and Kandelia candel and elemental and antioxidant analysis of the same. Fruit of K. candel exhibited highest level of three nutritional parameters i.e protein, total sugar and non-reducing sugar content (15.6±1.11 mg/g fwt, 396.67±4.16 mg/g fwt, 383.93±3.57 mg/g fwt. respectively) whereas lowest amount was observed in B. gymnorrhiza (4.4±0 mg/g fwt for protein and 108±6.9 mg/g fwt. for total sugar and 103.86±6.81 mg/g fwt. for non-reducing sugar). The reducing sugar and fiber content were ranged from 4.13±0.23 mg/g fwt. to 27.00±1.0 mg/g fwt and 0.7581±0.006 g/g dry wt. to 0.8061±0.001 g/g dry wt. respectively. Furthermore, the moisture and ash content was highest in B. gymnorrhiza and lowest in R. apiculata. It was found that the fruit with highest antioxidant activity was seen in B. gymnorrhiza and lowest recorded in K. candel. Likewise carotenoid content was highest in R. apiculata (3.53±0.28 mg/g fwt.) and lowest in K. candel (1.73±1.37 mg/g fwt.). Highest ascorbic acid content was recorded in B. gymnorrhiza (0.53±0.02 mg/g fwt.) and lowest in R. apiculata (0.35±0.03 mg/g fwt.). Fruit of R. apiculata was found rich in micronutrient among all the studied species. Nutrient analysis of these mangrove fruits can help us determining health benefits achieved from their use as an emergency as well as famine food and may play major role in bio-prospecting of mangroves.

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