Evaluation of Nutritional Value, Antioxidant Activity, and Phenolic Content of Protium serratum Engl and Artocarpus chama Buch.-Ham, Wild Edible Fruits Available in Tripura, a North-Eastern State of India

Abstract

Background: Protium serratum Engl (Indian red peer) and Artocarpus chama Buch.-Ham (wild jackfruit) are typical wild edible fruits, which have a wide range of folk medicinal properties. Objectives: Our present study deals with the exploration of nutritional value, antioxidant activity and total phenolic content present in Protium serratum Engl and Artocarpus chama Buch.-Ham fruits. Methods: Soxhlet apparatus was used to extract crude samples. The quantitative analysis of the wild edible fruits was broadly done by proximate and ultimate analysis techniques. Results: The results showed that the moisture contents in P. serratum and A. chama Buch. are 78.53% and 74.23%, respectively. The obtained ash (8.59%), fiber (3.17%), total sugar (5.495 mg/100g), and fat (0.66%) contents are high in P. serratum. Whereas, A. chama Buch. has high content of protein (0.52%). Vitamin C content has higher in P. serratum (550 mg/100g) than that of A. chama Buch. (350 mg/100g). The result shows that the Ca and Mg contents have higher in P. serratum compared to A. chama Buch. Indian red peer shows good antioxidant property and has high total phenolic content as compared to wild jackfruit and some commercial fruits. Conclusion: The study establishes that further investigation must be done to find out new products development, processing and preservation techniques so that two underutilized fruits can get into our regular dietary habits. By doing so, we can enrich the fruit basket of the country.

Nutritional Composition and Antioxidant Properties of the Wild Edible Fruits of Tripura, Northeast India

“…The quantifications of macronutrients such as moisture, ash, and protein content present in the fruits were made following reported methodologies [30].…”

“…Ascorbic acid content present in the fruit samples was quantified following the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (2,4-DNPH) method and using UV-vis spectroscopy tool [30]. Typically, fresh fruit samples (1.0 g) were ground first and then extracted with metaphosphoric acid (10 mL, 5% meta-phosphoric acid in 10% acetic acid solution in water) followed by filtration.…”

“…The extracts were then centrifuged at 2000 rpm for 15 min and collected the supernatant for DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Antioxidant properties of the fruits were measured by monitoring absorbance at 517 nm using a UV-vis spectrophotometer and expressed in terms of radical scavenging activity of the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical (µmol/g), as described in our prior report [30,35]. The IC50 (half maximal inhibitory concentration) value, the concentration of the sample that could scavenge 50% of DPPH free radical, was determined.…”

“…The MCC value obtained is expressed in mg/mL. The detailed procedure was described in our recently published paper [30].…”

“…Moreover, wild edible fruit species are diverse and familiar to tribal people, yet civilians are unfamiliar with their nutritional values. In our recent paper [30], we value and other associated properties of the two fruits: wild jackfruit (Artocarpus cham a Buch.-Ham.) and Indian red peer (Protium serratum Engl.).…”