Chemical Composition and Bioactive Potential of Dehydrated Peels ofBenincasa hispida, Luffa acutangula, andSechium edule

Abstract

Dehydrated peels from ash gourd ( Benincasa hispida), ridge gourd ( Luffa acutangula), and cho-chow marrow ( Sechium edule) were analyzed for chemical composition and bioactive potential. The range of constituents per 100g dry peels were protein, 3 to 15 g; insoluble fiber, 45 to 58 g; ether extractives, 2.3 to 3.3 g; iron, 5.1 to 17.4 mg; calcium, 307 to 704 mg; tannins, 580 to 848 mg; carotenoids, 1,712 to 35,663 μg; and ascorbic acid, 37 to 51 mg. Polyphenols, total antioxidant activity, free radical scavenging activity (FRSA), and reducing power of peel were highest in aqueous extracts. FRSA of cho-chow marrow peel was the highest (87.32%) followed by ridge gourd (85.4%) and ash gourd (63.31%) peels that correlated well with bioactive components. Methanol and aqueous extracts of the peel exhibited bile acid binding (61%-98%) and α-amylase inhibitory activity.

Effect of feeding chayote (Sechium edule) meal on growth performance and nutrient utilization in indigenous pig (Zovawk) of Mizoram

“…These observations were in agreement with Yoshimura [ 11 ] who reported that the chayote fruit contains 4.03% DM, and the DM contained 16.26% CP, 1.17% EE, 7.31% CF, 68.39% NFE, and 6.86% total ash, respectively. Similar observations were also observed by Nagarajaiah and Prakash [ 12 ] in S. edule dehydrated peels in which 100 g contained 15.15 g proteins, 45.24 g insoluble fiber, and 2.32 g EE.…”

A Literature‐Based Update on Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.: Traditional Uses, Nutraceutical, and Phytopharmacological Profiles

“…Vitamins present in the edible portion (per 100 g) of this plant are vitamin C (1.35-68.00), thiamin (0.02-0.04), riboflavin (0.02-0.31), niacin (0.20-0.46), and vitamin E. Major minerals in the edible portion (per 100 g) include sodium (0.14-6.00), potassium (77.00-131.00), calcium (5.00-23.32), iron (0.20-0.49), and phosphorus (225.39-234.61) [ 6 , 16 , 17 ]. The fruit contains water-soluble polysaccharides [ 18 ], such as arabinogalactans [ 19 ].…”

Therapeutic Potential of Luffa acutangula: A Review on Its Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicological Aspects

“…Nagarajaiah and Prakash (2014) evaluated physical characteristics and the chemical composition of the dehydrated fruit peel. The results exhibited the presence of iron (4.74 mg), calcium (416 mg), phosphorous (233 mg), ascorbic acid (35 mg) (49) , carotene (36.96 mg) (50) and tannin (778.20 mg) per 100 gm of peel (Figure 6) (Nagarajaiah and Prakash, 2014).…”

“…The results exhibited the presence of iron (4.74 mg), calcium (416 mg), phosphorous (233 mg), ascorbic acid (35 mg) (49) , carotene (36.96 mg) (50) and tannin (778.20 mg) per 100 gm of peel (Figure 6) (Nagarajaiah and Prakash, 2014). …”