Ferocactus herrerae Fruits: Nutritional Significance, Phytochemical Profiling, and Biological Potentials

Abstract

The current study reports for the first time the nutritional, fruit volatiles, phytochemical, and biological characteristics of Ferocactus herrerae J. G. Ortega fruits. The nutritional analysis revealed that carbohydrate (20.6%) was the most abundant nutrient followed by dietary fibers (11.8%), lipids (0.9%), and proteins (0.8%). It was rich in vitamins, minerals, essential, and non-essential amino acids. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the headspace-extracted volatiles showed that 3-methyl octadecane (35.72 ± 2.38%) was the major constituent detected. Spectrophotometric determination of total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the fruit methanolic extract (ME) showed high total phenolic [9.17 ± 0.87 mg/g gallic acid equivalent (GAE)] and flavonoid [4.99 ± 0.23 mg/g quercetin equivalent (QE)] contents. The ME was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet (HPLC-UV), which allowed for both qualitative and quantitative estimation of 16 phenolic compounds. Caffeic acid was the major phenolic acid identified [45.03 ± 0.45 mg/100 g dried powdered fruits (DW)] while quercitrin (52.65 ± 0.31 mg/100 g DW), was the major flavonoid detected. In-vitro assessment of the antioxidant capacities of the ME revealed pronounced activity using three comparative methods; 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (132.06 ± 2.1 μM Trolox equivalent (TE) /g), 2,2′-azino-di(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), (241.1 ± 5.03 uM TE/g), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (258.9 ± 1.75 uM TE/g). Besides, remarkable anti-inflammatory [COX-1 (IC50 = 20.2 ± 1.1 μg/mL) and COX-2 (IC50 = 9.8 ± 0.64 μg/mL)] and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory (IC50 = 1.01 ± 0.39 mg/mL) activities were observed. Finally, our results revealed that these fruits could be used effectively as functional foods and nutraceuticals suggesting an increase in their propagation.

Modulatory Effect of Pyrus pyrifolia Fruit and its Phenolics on Key Enzymes against Metabolic Syndrome: Bioassay-Guided Approach, HPLC Analysis, and In Silico Study

“…[ 3 ]. Fruit consumption has been correlated with a lower incidence of MS [ 4 ]. It is also widely accepted that some of these health advantages can be related to the phenolic contents found in edible fruits, which have antioxidant properties [ 4 ].…”

“…Fruit consumption has been correlated with a lower incidence of MS [ 4 ]. It is also widely accepted that some of these health advantages can be related to the phenolic contents found in edible fruits, which have antioxidant properties [ 4 ]. A comprehensive treatment strategy for MS includes radical scavenging activity, as well as inhibition of key enzymes responsible for carbohydrate ( α -glucosidase and α -amylase), and lipid metabolism (pancreatic lipase), hypertension [angiotensin I converting enzymes (ACE) and renin], oxidative stress [xanthine oxidase (XO)], and pro-inflammatory conditions [inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)] [ 1 ].…”

Nutritional Composition and Pharmacological Activity of Musa balbisiana Colla Seed: An Insight into Phytochemical and Cellular Bioenergetic Profiling

“…Fruits contain signi cant carbohydrates, dietary ber, protein, vitamins, amino acids and bioactive phytoconstituents [4]. In addition, micronutrients such as sodium, magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese and calcium are also enriched in fruits [5]. Banana is widely consumed worldwide, with global production of 114 million tonnes in 2017, among which India is the major producer with 29 million tonnes per year [6].…”