Chemical ingredients and antioxidant activities of underutilized wild fruits

Abstract

This study evaluated nutritional values, bioactive constituents and antioxidant activities of the five wild underutilized fruits in the mountains of southwest Saudi Arabia ( Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt, Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. Ex A.Dc., Cissus rotundifolius (L.), Ephedra foeminea Forssk., and Grewia villosa Willd.). The moisture content, crude fibers, total protein, total lipids, total hydrolyzable carbohydrate, total soluble sugars, and total free amino acids were analyzed. The results showed varying amounts among fruits of the five study species. In addition, the mineral composition, amino acid content, phenolic compounds, vitamins, and antioxidant activity were assessed. The highest content of total phenolic and total tannins was measured in D. mespiliformis (20.69 mg/g and 3.84 mg/g) and the lowest in E. foeminea (10.83 mg/g and 1.44 mg/g), respectively. The methanol extract (1 mg/ml) of D. mespiliformis displayed higher percentage of DPPH radical scavenging activity (87.36%). The methanol extract (1 mg/ml) of C. grandis exhibited the highest effect of total antioxidant activity and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity (71.53%). The sufficient nutritional and antioxidant value of these wild fruits provide healthy food source for the local residents, much the same as many cultivated fruits and vegetables.

Red Arils of Taxus baccata L.—A New Source of Valuable Fatty Acids and Nutrients

“…The results ( Table 3 ) revealed a significant ( p < 0.05) variation in the nutrient contents of RAs collected from different sites. As pointed out by Hegazy et al [ 9 ], the moisture content affects many physical properties of fruits, such as viscosity, weight, and density, and is a helpful indicator during fruit harvesting, storage, and processing. RA samples had a higher moisture content (75.8%, on average) than wild berries from the Mediterranean region: strawberry-tree berries, blackthorn, and rose (48.7–60.9%), but lower than cultivated fruits: cherries and red raspberries (86.4–92.7%) [ 6 , 35 ].…”

“…Cloudberries grown in open habitats differed significantly in their chemical composition from those grown in shaded sites [ 4 ]. Apart from cultivated fruits, the wild and underutilized ones also offer some nutritional value, being a rich source of carbohydrates, proteins, fibers, minerals, and vitamins [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”

Physicochemical Composition, Antioxidant Profile and Anticancer Potentialities of Chico (<em>Pachycereus Weberi</em>) and Jiotilla (<em>Escontria Chiotilla</em>) Fruits Extract

“…The crude fiber in chico fruit and jiotilla was higher than the percentage in red pitaya (Stenocereus pruinosus) (0.67±0.09 %), orange pitaya (0.53±0.02 %) (Stenocereus pruinosus) [36]. Furthermore, the protein contents are lower than jackalberry tree fruit (Diospyros mespiliformis) (9.28±1.14%) [39], but chico and jiotilla protein percentage are higher than apple (Malus domestica) (0.26%) [38]. 0.864±0.020 0.708±0.124 FRAP (mmol/100g fresh sample) 4 0.27 ± 0.002 0.315±0.003 DPPH (µ mol/ g fresh sample) 4 34.52±3.43 57.17±5.28 1 Results are shown as average± standard deviation.…”

Antidiabetic Activity of the Fruits Powder of Cissus Rotundifolia on Alloxan - Induced Diabetic Rabbits

“…(Fibers, protein, lipids, hydrolyzable carbohydrates, soluble sugars, free amino acids, phenolic, tannin, anthocyanin, carotenoid, Vitamin C, Vitamin A 23 . Macroelements : Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus.…”

“…Microelements : Iron, Zinc, Copper. Amino acids:Essential Amino Acids (EAAs) : Threonine, Lysine, Leucine, Isoleucine, Valine, Phenylalanine, Histidine, Non-Essential Amino Acids (Non-EAAs) : Aspartic acid, Tyrosine, Alanine, Glycine, Serine, Glutamine, Arginine 23 .…”