Tropical fruits as a potential source for the recovery of bioactive compounds: Tamarindus indica L., Annona muricata, Psidium guajava and Mangifera indica.

The objective of this review is to identify the bioactive compounds present in tropical fruits such as Tamarindus indica L., Annona muricata, Mangifera indica, and Psidium guajava and their biological activities. The identification of these compounds shows their potential as a food ingredient in the development of products, providing added value to them, because not only the pulp of the fruit is used, but also the shell and its other parts, such as the leaves, are used, being viable sources to obtain some compounds that benefit human health. Implementing fruits that have certain bioactive compounds such as carotenoids (ß-carotene, α-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin and ß-cryptoxanthin), antioxidants (vitamins A and C), and phenolic compounds (ellagic acid, gallic acid, citric acid) in the production process in the food industry, allows them to become functional foodstuffs. The results obtained show the need to implement the operational processes that allow obtaining different compounds, which ensure their stability and precision, applying different extraction methods such as maceration, Soxhlet, supercritical fluids, and ultrasound.

Interventions based on alternative and sustainable strategies for postharvest control of anthracnose and maintain quality in tropical fruits.

Colletotrichum spp. is a phytopathogen causing anthracnose in a variety of tropical fruits. Strategies used to control postharvest diseases in tropical fruits typically rely on the use of synthetic fungicides, which have stimulated the emergence of resistant pathogens. Safer alternative strategies to control anthracnose in tropical fruits have been described in the literature. This review presents and discusses the main innovative interventions concerning the application of sustainable alternative strategies in the postharvest control of pathogenic Colletotrichum species in tropical fruits, with a particular emphasis on the studies published in the last 5 years. The available studies have shown the use of various methods, including physical barriers, natural antimicrobials, and biological control with antagonistic microorganisms, to reduce anthracnose lesion severity and incidence in tropical fruits. The available literature showed high inhibitory activity in vitro, reduced anthracnose incidence and lesion diameter, and total disease inhibition in tropical fruits. Most studies focused on the inhibition of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on avocado, papaya, and mango, as well as of Colletotrichum musae on banana; however, the inhibition of other Colletotrichum species was also demonstrated. The application of emerging sustainable alternative methods, including natural antimicrobial substances, also stimulated the induction of defense systems in tropical fruits, including enzymatic activity, such as polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. The retrieved data helped to understand the current state of the research field and reveal new perspectives on developing efficient and sustainable intervention strategies to control pathogenic Colletotrichum species and anthracnose development in tropical fruits.

Utilization of ripe coconut water in the development of probiotic gelatin.

Background: Desserts with vegetable ingredients are a constantly expanding global market due to the search for alternatives to cow's milk. Fermentation of these matrices by lactic acid bacteria can add greater functionality to the product, improving its nutritional, sensory, and food safety characteristics, as well as creating bioactive components with beneficial effects on health. Concern for health and well-being has aroused interest in byproducts of the industry that have functional properties for the body, such as mature coconut water, a normally discarded residue that is rich in nutrients. This study aimed to develop a probiotic gelatin based on pulp and water from mature coconuts and evaluate the physicochemical characteristics, viability of the Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LR32 strain in the medium, as well as the texture properties of the product. Methods: After collection and cleaning, the physicochemical characterization, mineral analysis, analysis of the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of mature coconut water were carried out, as well as the centesimal composition of its pulp. Afterwards, the gelling was developed with the addition of modified corn starch, gelatin, sucrose, and probiotic culture, being subjected to acidity analysis, texture profile and cell count, on the first day and every 7 days during 21 days of storage, under refrigeration at 5 °C. An analysis of the centesimal composition was also carried out. Results: The main minerals in coconut water were potassium (1,932.57 mg L-1), sodium (19.57 mg L-1), magnesium (85.13 mg L-1) calcium (279.93 mg L-1) and phosphorus (11.17 mg L- 1), while the pulp had potassium (35.96 g kg-1), sodium (0.97 g kg-1), magnesium (2.18 g kg-1), 37 calcium (1.64 g kg-1), and phosphorus (3.32 g kg-1). The phenolic content of the water and pulp was 5.72 and 9.77 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) 100 g-1, respectively, and the antioxidant capacity was 1.67 and 0.98 39 g of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) mg-1, respectively. The coconut pulp had 2.81 g 100 g-1of protein, 1.11 g 100 g-1 of 40 ash, 53% moisture, and 5.81 g 100 g-1 of carbohydrates. The gelatin produced during the storage period presented firmness parameters ranging from 145.82 to 206.81 grams-force (gf), adhesiveness from 692.85 to 1,028.63 gf sec, cohesiveness from 0.604 to 0.473, elasticity from 0.901 to 0.881, gumminess from 86.27 to 97.87 gf, and chewiness from 77.72 to 91.98 gf. Regarding the viability of the probiotic microorganism, the dessert had 7.49 log CFU g-1 that remained viable during the 21-day storage, reaching 8.51 CFU g-1. Acidity ranged from 0.15 to 0.64 g of lactic acid 100 g-1. The centesimal composition of the product showed 4.88 g 100 g-1 of protein, 0.54 g 100 g-1 of ash, 85.21% moisture, and 5.37g 100 g-1 of carbohydrates. The development of the gelatin made it possible to obtain a differentiated product, contributing to diversification in the food sector, providing a viable alternative for maintaining consumer health and reducing costs compared to desserts already available on the market.

Five Underutilized Ecuadorian Fruits and Their Bioactive Potential as Functional Foods and in Metabolic Syndrome: A Review.

The Ecuadorian Amazon harbors numerous wild and cultivated species used as food, many of which are underutilized. This review explores the bioactive potential of five such fruits-Borojó (Alibertia patinoi); Chonta (Bactris gasipaes); Arazá (Eugenia stipitata); Amazon grape (Pourouma cecropiifolia), a wild edible plant; and Cocona (Solanum sessiliflorum)-and their applications against metabolic syndrome. This study highlights their health-promoting ingredients and validates traditional medicinal properties, emphasizing their significance in improving health and mitigating the effects of the Western diet. These fruits, integral to Ecuadorian cuisine, are consumed fresh and processed. Chonta is widely cultivated but less prominent than in pre-Hispanic times, Borojó is known for its aphrodisiac properties, Cocona is traditional in northern provinces, Arazá is economically significant in food products, and Amazon grape is the least utilized and researched. The fruits are rich in phenolics (A. patinoi, E. stipitata) and carotenoids (B. gasipaes, E. stipitata), which are beneficial in controlling metabolic syndrome. This study advocates for more research and product development, especially for lesser-known species with high phenolic and anthocyanin content. This research underscores the economic, cultural, and nutritional value of these fruits, promoting their integration into modern diets and contributing to sustainable agriculture, cultural preservation, and public health through functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Spray dried acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC) juice particles to produce phytochemical-rich starch-based edible films.

This study aimed to produce spray dried acerola juice microparticles with different protein carriers to be incorporated into edible starch films. The microparticles were evaluated for solids recovery, polyphenol retention, solubility, hygroscopicity, particle size distribution, X-ray diffraction, phytochemical compounds and antioxidant activity. Acerola microparticles produced with WPI/hydrolysed collagen carriers (AWC) with higher solids recovery (53.5 ± 0.34% w/w), polyphenol retention (74.4 ± 0.44% w/w), high solubility in water (85.2 ± 0.4% w/w), total polyphenol content (128.45 ± 2.44 mg GAE/g) and good storage stability were selected to produce starch-based films by casting. As a result, cassava films with water vapour permeability of 0.29 ± 0.07 g mm/m2 h KPa, polyphenol content of 10.15 ± 0.22 mg GAE/g film and DPPH radical scavenging activity of 6.57 ± 0.13 µM TE/g film, with greater migration of polyphenol to water (6.30 ± 0.52 mg GAE/g film) were obtained. Our results show that the incorporation of phytochemical-rich fruit microparticles is a promising strategy to create biodegradable edible films.

Whey/collagen protein blend AWC was the best wall material for acerola encapsulation.Spray dried protein-acerola particles were used to formulate edible films.Water soluble phenolic-rich AWC films with antioxidant properties were produced.Acerola phenolics from starch films migrated more to water than to acid media.

Freeze-Dried Banana Slices Carrying Probiotic Bacteria.

Findings on diet-health relationships have induced many people to adopt healthier diets, including the substitution of energy-dense snacks with healthier items, e.g., those containing probiotic microorganisms. The aim of this research was to compare two methods to produce probiotic freeze-dried banana slices-one of them consisting of impregnating slices with a suspension of probiotic Bacillus coagulans, the other based on coating the slices with a starch dispersion containing the bacteria. Both processes resulted in viable cell counts above 7 log ufc.g-1, although the presence of the starch coating prevented a significant loss in viability during freeze-drying. The coated slices were less crispy than the impregnated ones, according to the shear force test results. However, the sensory panel (with more than 100 panelists) did not perceive significant texture differences. Both methods presented good results in terms of probiotic cell viability and sensory acceptability (the coated slices being significantly more accepted than the non-probiotic control slices).

Temporal sweet taste dominance according to adult body mass index classification.

Excess adipose tissue is associated with basic tastes perception change, which can negatively affect food choices. However, the effect of overweight and obesity on sensory perception is not clearly explained in the literature yielding heterogeneous results. The present investigation aimed to investigate the temporal dominance of sweet taste according to body mass index (BMI) classification in adults during the ingestion of five passion fruit nectar samples prepared with different sucrose concentrations. The temporal dominance of sensations methodology was applied, which allowed the representation of the stimuli assessed in dominance curves, considering a significant difference in Fisher's exact test (p ≤ 0.05). The attributes evaluated were sweet taste, bitter taste, acidic taste, astringency, passion fruit flavor, metallic taste, or none of the previous options. The sensory analysis was performed with the participation of ninety adult consumers, divided into three groups: EG = eutrophic, WG = overweight, and OG = obesity group, according to the BMI classification. Between the groups a difference in the perception of the attribute "sweet taste" was observed: The EG demonstrated perception of the stimulus in food samples at lower sucrose concentrations, whereas WG and OG showed a higher rate of sweet taste dominance in the food samples with higher concentration of sucrose. Overweight and obese individuals have a lower sensory perception of sweet taste and require a greater amount of sucrose to producing sensory dominance of the attribute "sweet taste" when compared to eutrophic individuals. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Overweight and obese individuals may experience taste perception in foods in a different way. This study investigated the dominance of sweet taste perception in a fruit beverage by adults with adequate weight and overweight. The results of the tests support the hypothesis that obese and nonobese individuals differ in the sweet taste perception, which can help to understand which factors are involved in sensory perception and food consumption, in addition to providing subsidies for the nonalcoholic beverage industry to elaborate products with new alternatives for concentration and/or replacement of sucrose.

The improvement of guava (Psidium guajava) juice quality using crude multi-enzymatic extracts obtained from yeasts.

Guava juice is cloudy and viscous, which hinders filtration, decreases yield, and causes the loss of quality after its processing and during storage. This study aimed to evaluate enzymatic treatment effects using crude multi-enzymatic extracts (CME) obtained from Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Rhodotorula orizycola, and Pseudozyma sp. produced by submerse fermentation in the extraction of juice guava. Mixtures of 100 ml of guava pulp and multi-enzymatic extracts proposed by Doehlert planning were incubated under constant agitation at 150 rpm and 50°C, and a Doehlert design was applied as a multivariate optimization strategy. The optimal conditions using the multi-enzymatic extract were: 0.4% (v/v) of CME for 131 min for the multi-enzymatic treatment using Pseudozyma sp.; 3.0% (v/v) of CME for 154 min using the R. mucilaginosa CME; and 5.0% (v/v) of CME for 90 min using R. oryzicola. The maximum viscosity reduction values for the juices treated with the CME of yeasts were 10.33%, 86.38%, and 13.33% for the juices treated with the CME of Pseudozyma sp., R. mucilaginosa, and R. orizycola, respectively. The physical-chemical properties were improved after treatment with CMEs, yielding a reduction of clarity, increase of total soluble solids and reducing sugars, and decreasing the acidity (pH) for all treatments with enzymatic extracts of all strains. The yeasts studied showed a potential for CME production to be applied to juice, improving the quality of the juice, and R. mucilaginosa was the most prominent yeast due to most significant reduction of viscosity in guava juice.

Nutraceutical, thermophysical and textural characteristics of papaya (Carica papaya L) and incidence for post-harvest management.

Papaya fruit is of great importance to local trade. The objective of this research was to evaluate the textural, thermophysical and nutraceutical characteristics (Total phenolic and vitamin C) of fruit cultivated in the Colombian Caribbean in the post-harvest period. Five ripening stage levels were used as a treatment factor. The puncture method was used to measure the firmness of the shell (N) and firmness of the pulp (N) using uniaxial compression tests to measure the deformability modulus (MPa) and elasticity limit (MPa). The thermophysical parameters: thermal conductivity (k), density (ρ), diffusivity (∝) and specific heat (Cp) were calculated using the adjusted math model. The shell firmness decreased from ripening stage one to ripening stage five. The total phenolic content did not conform to a certain model and presented an inversely proportional relationship with the ripening stage. The vitamin C content was directly proportional to the ripening stage and was adjusted to a double quadratic behavior with a coefficient of determination.

Effectiveness of neutral electrolyzed water and copper oxychloride on fungi spores isolated from tropical fruits.

The aim of this study was to assess the antifungal effectiveness of neutral electrolyzed water (NEW) to inhibit the spore germination of post-harvest fungi common in fruits, determine the required available chlorine concentration (ACC) of NEW and to compare it with copper oxychloride (CO) and sterile distilled water (SDW) in vitro. This study evaluated the biological effectiveness of NEW to inactivate pure cultures of 11 different fungi obtained from post-harvest tropical fruits with anthracnose, rottenness or necrosis symptoms. A conidial solution of 1 × 104 spores/mL per culture was prepared and treated with a low, medium and high ACC of NEW (pH 7.0 ± 0.05, 12, 33 and 53 mg/L of ACC and ORP of 850 mV), CO at 0.3 g/L, or sterile distilled water as a control, for 3-, 5- and 10-min contact time. Spore germination of Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium australiense, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and C. siamense, Fusarium solani and F. oxysporum, and Lasiodiplodia theobromae was inhibited in 100% by NEW at 12, 33 and 53 ppm ACC; 3,5 and 10 min contact time. Aspergillus niger and A. tamarii required 53 mg/L ACC to inhibit 100% of spore germination. NEW at 33 and 12 mg/L inhibited around 50% and <25% of A. niger spore germination, respectively. NEW at 53 mg/L ACC was the most efficient treatment against Rhizopus stolonifer but only inhibited spore germination in ∼25%. CO inhibited spore germination by 100% of A. alternata, B. cinerea, C. australiense, C. gloeosporioides, C. siamense and L. theobromae. However, CO inhibited <25% of spore germination of F. solani, F. oxysporum, A. niger, A. tamarii and R. stolonifer. NEW and CO had a significant effect on every fungus compared to a SDW treatment. SDW was the least effective treatment, followed by CO. NEW at 12 mg/L and 33 mg/L ACC were equally effective in eliminating the fungi, and more effective than CO. NEW at a concentration of 53 mg/L ACC was the most effective treatment. Results obtained in this study show that NEW has effectively inhibited spore germination of these species, and this treatment could be used as a substitute an ecological novel alternative to CO to avoid spore growth in the above-mentioned fruits.

Physiological and Biochemical Response of Tropical Fruits to Hypoxia/Anoxia.

Aerobic respiration and oxygen consumption are indicators of routine metabolic rate, and dissolved oxygen in plant tissues is one of the most important environmental factors affecting their survival. The reduction of available O2 leads to hypoxia which causes a limitation of the oxidative phosphorylation; when O2 is absent, tissues generate ATP by activating the fermentative glycolysis to sustain glycolysis in the absence of mitochondrial respiration, which results in the production of lactate. Overall, hypoxia was reported to often decrease the respiration rate (O2 uptake) and delay the climacteric rise of ethylene in climacteric fruits by inhibiting action, thus delaying their ripening. Much research has been done on the application of postharvest hypoxia and anoxia treatment to temperate fresh crops (controlled or modified atmosphere), however, very few reported on tropical commodities. Indeed, the physiological mode of action of low or absence of oxygen in fresh crops is not well understood; and the physiological and biochemical bases of the effects low or absence of O2 are also yet to be clarified. Recent investigations using omics technologies, however, have provided useful information on the response of fresh fruits and vegetables to this abiotic stress. The aims of this review are to (i) report on the oxygen exchange in the crops tissue, (ii) discuss the metabolic responses to hypoxia and anoxia, and (iii) report the physiological and biochemical responses of crops tissues to these abiotic stresses and the potential benefits of these environmental conditions.

Tropical Fruits and Their Co-Products as Bioactive Compounds and Their Health Effects: A Review.

Tropical and subtropical fruits are recognized as a source of a high content of bioactive compounds and health promoting properties due to their nutritional composition. These beneficial health effects are related to the content of several of these bioactive compounds, mainly flavonoids and non-flavonoid phenolics. Many of these compounds are common in different tropical fruits, such as epicatechin in mango, pineapple, and banana, or catechin in pineapple, cocoa or avocado. Many studies of tropical fruits had been carried out, but in this work an examination is made in the current literature of the flavonoids and non-flavonoid phenolics content of some tropical fruits and their coproducts, comparing the content in the same units, as well as examining the role that these compounds play in health benefits.

Antioxidant films and coatings based on starch and phenolics from Spondias purpurea L.

The objective of this study was to prepare, for the first time, active films and coatings from fruit starch (SPFS) and phenolic stem bark extract (SBPE) from Spondias purpurea L. Starch film formulations were prepared with different SBPE contents (5-20 wt% on starch), then cast and dried into films. SBPE showed higher antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Chemical, morphological, thermal, optical, mechanical, and barrier properties were studied for SPFS-SBPE films. In general, the phenolic extract caused significant changes in starch films (especially when in excess), such as gradual reduction of elastic modulus and tensile strength, increased elongation, opacity, and thermal properties (e.g. glass transition and melting enthalpy). On the other hand, SBPE provided the films with active properties (antioxidant and UV-absorbing). Coatings were applied to minimally processed mangoes (MPM), which were stored for 10 days at 12 °C. SBPE-containing coatings provided better protective action, reducing the total color difference (∆E⁎) and delaying the browning index (BI) during storage as well as reducing fungus attack. The active SPFS-SBPE films showed great potential as environmentally friendly active films and coatings.

Volatile profiles of five jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) cultivars grown in the Mexican Pacific area.

The volatile compounds of five kind of cultivars of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) grown in Nayarit, Mexico, was researched by using extraction and chromatographic methods such as headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Eighty-six volatile compounds were identified. The most prominent compounds in the analyzed cultivars were alkyl esters of 3-methylbutanoic acid. Ethyl 3-methylbutanoate was the most abundant ester in FMC, JMC and RMC cultivars (190.7-961.2 µg/kg), whereas butyl 3-methylbutanoate (152.8-205.2 µg/kg) and pentyl 3-methylbutanoate (105.1-210.9 µg/kg) were predominant in DMC and BMC cultivars. By utilizing clustering statistical techniques such as principal component analysis was possible to identify certain esters compounds (number and concentration) to differentiate each cultivar.

Monitoring and Optimization of Cupuaçu Seed Fermentation, Drying and Storage Processes.

Cupuaçu [Theobroma grandiflorum (Wild ex Spreng.) K. Schum] seeds have been employed for a long time in the Amazon region for food purposes. Similar to cocoa, processed cupuaçu pulp and seeds can be used to produce juices, ice creams, confectionary products and cupulate®, which is a similar product to chocolate. However, its market penetration requires the mastery of all processing stages to improve the food quality and safety and to make possible an efficient technology transfer to the local small farmers and communities. Based on the above, the current research work aimed at monitoring and optimizing the consecutive fermentation and drying processes of cupuaçu seeds over 7 days each, as well as storage for 90 days. A greenhouse structure incorporating the fermenter and solar drying terrace was designed to be inexpensive, versatile, easily scalable, and easy to maintain and operate by the local small farmers after a short period of training. This research effort also aimed at giving a vision for the future creation of an integrative and sustainable cupuaçu system covering the economic, social, cultural and environmental vectors. The experimental design comprised 5 batches of 100 kg of seeds each. Several microbiological and physicochemical parameters were performed and correlated with processing variables. Microbiological parameters encompassed viable counts of mesophilic microorganisms, coliforms, yeasts, and molds, whereas physicochemical measures included fermentation and drying temperature, pH, acidity, dry matter, ashes, water activity, color, total proteins, lipids and carbohydrates, and energy. The average seed fermentation temperature varied from ca. 28 to 44 °C, reaching the maximum on day 3 and a final value of ca. 31 °C. Regarding solar drying, the average seed temperatures ranged from ca. 24 °C (at the end) to 39 °C on day 3, and an initial value of ca. 29 °C. The average final seed pH value of drying was 5.34 and was kept during storage. During storage, results demonstrated the existence of significant correlations among several experimental parameters under scrutiny. Finally, bean viable counts obtained during storage unfolded acceptable values of total mesophilic bacteria well below the maximum limit. Viable counts of yeast and molds were generally found between 3 and 4 log(CFU/gsample), and total coliforms were also detected, although both were at acceptable levels and well beneath the established maximum limits for food safety.

Genetic diversity among wild pomegranate (Punica granatum) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir region of Pakistan

BACKGROUND: Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), one of the most important tropical fruits in Azad Jammu and Kashmir regions of Pakistan, is highly valued for its nutrition and medicinal purposes. Although pomegranate is native to this region, the genetic diversity among wild pomegranate accessions is currently unknown. Such information would be vital for germplasm conservation and breeding efforts. In the current study, genetic diversity among forty-eight wild pomegranate accessions collected from different agro-ecological zones of Azad Jammu and Kashmir was assessed using 41 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. RESULTS: The markers revealed 303 alleles averaging 7.39 alleles per marker. Polymorphic information content ranged from 0.12 (PGCT093B) to 0.88 (Pom006), with a mean of 0.54. The average genetic distance (GD) across all genotypes was 0.52, and was lowest between Chattar Class and Thorar genotypes (GD = 0.27), but highest between Khun Bandway and Akhor Ban (GD = 0.74). A neighbor-joining dendrogram separated the genotypes into three major clusters, with further sub-clustering within each cluster. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results presented here show significant genetic diversity among wild pomegranate accessions in Azad Jammu and Kashmir region of Pakistan. These accessions present a valuable genetic resource to breeding and cultivar improvement programs within the region.

Determination of pesticides in dried minor tropical fruits from Colombia using the Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe method-gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

The AOAC 2007.1 quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe official method, together with gas chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was applied for the analysis of 38 multiclass pesticides from dried fruits typically cultivated and exported from Colombia: uchuva (Physalis peruviana), lulo (Solanum quitoense), guanabana (Anona muricata), and pitahaya (Hylocereus undatus). The whole method was validated in terms of matrix-matched calibration, matrix effect, and recovery using atrazine-d5 as internal standard, triphenylphosphate for quality control of the injection, and a proper mixture of analytes protectants. Matrix-matched calibration data were found satisfactory for all pesticides and dried fruits, reporting R2 values above 0.99. Matrix effect values evidenced the existence of such effect in most cases. The applied procedure gave satisfactory recovery percentages (70-120%) and relative standard deviation values (< 20%) for 92% of the 456 combinations pesticide/fruit studied (spiked levels of 25, 200, and 400 µg/kg). Finally, 20 real dried fruit samples were analyzed and residues of tebuconazole were found in two samples of uchuva at a concentration below the lowest calibration level of the method for one of them and at 10.8 ± 1.6 µg/kg for the other, being below or similar to the general maximum residue level established for monitoring purposes in food applications.

Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of the Main Fruits Consumed in the Western Coastal Region of Ecuador as a Source of Health-Promoting Compounds.

We studied 19 different tropical fruits traditionally consumed in the coastal lowlands of Ecuador to determine their chemical composition and antioxidant activity. Carambola (Averrhoa carambola L.) had the highest total phenolic, flavonoid, and total antioxidant capacity values, whereas guava fruits (Psidium guajava L.) had the highest vitamin C values. The main organic acids identified were lactic, citric, and acetic acids, and the highest amount of lactic acid was found in soursop fruits (Annona muricata L.), whereas Ecuadorian ivory palm (Phytelephas aequatorialis Spruce) and guava fruits had the highest acetic acid content. Guava also had the highest citric acid content; the highest concentration of oxalic acid was found in carambola. In terms of sugar content, giant granadilla (Passiflora quadrangularis L.) had the highest values of glucose, and red mombin (Spondias mombin L.) had the largest values for fructose and guava for sucrose. Chili pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq) proved to be the main source of carotenoids, lutein, and ß-carotene, anthocyanins, and vitamin C. The results here increase our knowledge regarding the composition of the main fruits consumed on the west coast of Ecuador to facilitate recommendations as potential sources of health-promoting compounds.

Diversity and Functional Properties of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated From Wild Fruits and Flowers Present in Northern Argentina.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are capable of converting carbohydrate substrates into organic acids (mainly lactic acid) and producing a wide range of metabolites. Due to their interesting beneficial properties, LAB are widely used as starter cultures, as probiotics, and as microbial cell factories. Exploring LAB present in unknown niches may lead to the isolation of unique species or strains with relevant technological properties. Autochthonous rather than allochthonous starter cultures are preferred in the current industry of fermented food products, due to better adaptation and performance of autochthonous strains to the matrix they originate from. In this work, the lactic microbiota of eight different wild tropical types of fruits and four types of flowers were studied. The ability of the isolated strains to produce metabolites of interest to the food industry was evaluated. The presence of 21 species belonging to the genera Enterococcus, Fructobacillus, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, and Weissella was evidenced by using culture-dependent techniques. The isolated LAB corresponded to 95 genotypically differentiated strains by applying rep-PCR and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene; subsequently, representative strains of the different isolated species were studied for technological properties, such as fast growth rate and acidifying capacity; pectinolytic and cinnamoyl esterase activities, and absence of biogenic amine biosynthesis. Additionally, the strains' capacity to produce ethyl esters as well as mannitol was evaluated. The isolated fruit- and flower-origin LAB displayed functional properties that validate their potential use in the manufacture of fermented fruit-based products setting the background for the design of novel functional foods.

High-throughput analysis of pesticides in minor tropical fruits from Colombia.

In this work, a method has been applied and validated for the determination of a group of 35 multiclass pesticides in the minor tropical fruits rose apple/pomarrosa (Syzygium malaccense), starfruit/carambola (Averrhoa carambola), yoyomo (Spondias purpurea) and papayuela (Vasconcellea pubescens) cultivated and exported in Colombia. The AOAC 2007.1 QuEChERS method, that uses an acetic acid/acetate buffer, was applied together with gas chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The method was validated in terms of calibration, recovery at three levels of concentration and matrix effects (MEs). A mixture of analyte protectants was also used. A good linearity was obtained in all cases, while the study of the ME revealed the need of developing matrix-matched calibration for many pesticides. Recovery values were in the range 70-120% with relative standard deviation values less than 20% for most of the pesticides studied. The lowest calibration level was 5 µg/kg. Several samples of each type were analysed.