Compositional variation in β‐carotene content, carbohydrate and antioxidant enzymes in selected banana cultivars

Abstract

Banana is one of the most important tropical fruits, and India ranks first in its world production. Banana cultivars rich in provitamin A carotenoids may offer a potential food source for alleviating vitamin A deficiency, particularly in developing countries. With a view to exploit banana peels as a source of valuable components, in the present study, proximate composition, carotenoids, beta-carotene and some antioxidative enzymes as well as carbohydrate content of selected Indian banana varieties were determined. Karpooravalli cultivar of banana showed the maximum accumulation of carotenoid content in the nonedible (68 lg g )1 d.w.) portion of banana, while being the second highest in beta-carotene content (143.12 lg per 100 g). However, Red Banana ranked highest in total carotenoid contents for pulp (4 lg g )1 d.w.) and beta-carotene was estimated to be the highest in the case of peels (241.91 lg per 100 g) and in pulp (117.2 lg per 100 g). Karpooravalli cultivar of banana is also rich in carbohydrate content in terms of total starch (1786.0 lg g )1 d.w. in peels and 544.85 lg g )1 d.w. in pulp) and sugars (53.53 lg g )1 d.w. in peels and 39.05 lg g )1 d.w. in pulp). The catalase enzyme activity in these peels ranged from 5.66 to 35.57 nmol min )1 mg )1 proteins and was found at a higher level in cultivar Poovan, while the ascorbate peroxidase showed the range of 2.25 to 6.22 lmol min )1 mg )1 proteins. The peels of cultivars Red Banana and Karpooravalli are rich source of bioactive compounds, such as carotenoids (beta-carotene), antioxidative enzymes and carbohydrate contents.

Antioxidant Activity and Protective effect of Banana Peel against Oxidative Hemolysis of Human Erythrocyte at Different Stages of Ripening

“…Grape pomace, a by-product of wine industry, is a good source of anthocyanins, catechins, flavanoids, phenolic acids, and dietary fiber. Tomato peels are reported to be a good source of carotenoids .There is very little or negligible work on the physiological and biochemical evaluation of edible (pulp) and non-edible portion (peel) of banana fruit [4].The main by-product of the banana processing industry is the peel, accounting for 30% of the fruit, which constitutes environmental hazard [5].High dietary fiber content of banana peels makes them promising for a variety of applications in nutraceutical and medicinal application. By doing this, the aim is to prevent oxidative stress related disorder in human.…”

Optimization of extraction parameters on the antioxidant properties of banana waste

“…Banana peel contains potent antioxidant compounds. Vitamin A, vitamin C, and carotenoids are the most abundant antioxidants in banana pulp as well as in banana peel (Arora et al, 2008;Pereira and Maraschin, 2015;Tsamo et al, 2015;US Department..., 2014). Banana peels are also known to have higher antioxidant activity (AA) than the pulp (Oliveira et al, 2008;Pereira and Maraschin, 2015;Someya et al, 2002).…”

Antioxidant effcacy of unripe banana (Musa acuminata Colla) peel extracts in sunflower oil during accelerated storage

“…Besides its fl esh, banana peel contains potent antioxidant compounds. Vitamin A, vitamin C, and carotenoids are the most abundant antioxidants in banana fl esh as well as in banana peel (Arora et al, 2008;Pereira and Maraschin, 2015;US Department..., 2014). Banana peels have been shown to demonstrate higher antioxidant capacity (AC) than the pulp (Pereira and Maraschin, 2015;Oliveira et al, 2008;Someya et al, 2002).…”