Determination of the chemical composition of seeds, peels, and seedcakes from two genotypes of Cape gooseberry (Physalisperuviana L.)

Abstract

Physalis peruviana L. fruit (Cape gooseberry, CG) is a rich source of phytonutrients, including vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAs), phytosterols, dietetic fibers, and others. The popularity and production areas of CG have been expanding worldwide, thus producing fruit with origin-substantiated differences in their nutrient composition.This study was based on the comparative assessment of 2 genotypes of CG produced in Bulgaria (CG-P and CG-F), through analysis of the lipid fraction of different fruit elements (seeds, peels), and further examination of the extracted seedcakes. The CG seeds reasonably yielded more oil (17.0%–22.2%) than the isolated peels (2.8%–2.9%). The main FAs in the CG-P seed oil were oleic (29.6%) and palmitic (20.6%), and in the CG-F seed oil were palmitic (20.9%) and stearic (17.5%). Both CG peel oils were dominated by palmitic acid (43.0%–60.2%), but there was a significant variation of some other FAs. The group of bioactive tocopherols was found exclusively in the oil extracted from the CG seeds, with no significant difference between the genotypes; β-tocopherol and δ-tocopherol were the most abundant. Waste from the oil extraction (the seedcakes) was found to contain high levels of macro and microminerals (K, Mg, Cu, Zn, Mn, and others), fiber (40.26%–47.62%), protein (13.73%–8.08%), and essential amino acids, with some genotype-based variations. The results demonstrated that, concerning the studied aspects of fruit composition, CG produced in Bulgaria was comparable to the fruit of other origins; hence, they might be of practical interest to national agricultural and food producers, as well as to the food industry on a wider basis, as new details are added to the knowledge about CG fruit. The outcomes from the examination of the CG seedcakes were in favor of their potential in human and animal nutrition, and might serve as grounds for the development of new products.

Effect of maturity on the phytonutrient composition of Cape gooseberry seeds (Physalis peruviana L.)

“…Previous studies on P. peruviana seed oil (ripe fruit) had also identified β-, γ-and δ-tocopherols as the main oil tocopherols, and our results were fully consistent with that [4,11,12,14]. Considering previously published data about the tocopherol composition of the seed oil isolated from fully ripe Cape gooseberry fruit of the same variety and production site (2833 mg/kg in ripe fruit, respectively) [5], the current results revealed clear trend of significant decrease in the total content of biologically active tocopherols during plant vegetation period.…”

“…Similar increase in seed oil content with fruit maturation were reported for other fruits, as well -mango (unripe, 1.15±0.07% and ripe, 2.05±0.07%), papaya (1.56±0.05% and 2.27±0.07%), pineapple (0.47±0.07% and 1.23±0.11%), and orange (1.49±0.07% and 1.66±0.07%) [45]. Furthermore, previous data from the investigation of the chemical composition of the seeds from fully ripe fruit of the same Cape gooseberry variety and production site, as in this study, showed 22.23% seed oil content [5], which supported the trend of oil yield increase with fruit ripeness stage.…”

“…The fruit of the plant are small (diameter up to 3 cm, weight about 4-10 g), ovate, bright yellow to orange berries, embraced by a papery husk (calyx), which contain between 100 and 300 seeds [2]. The seeds are creamy white to yellowish, flat, very small, with diameter less than 2 mm and weight less than 1 mg, but they constitute about 7-13% of fruit weight [5][6][7]. Many studies have identified Cape gooseberry fruit as a rich source of phytonutrients, important in human diet, such as vitamins [4,8], minerals [9,10], carotenoids [11], carbohydrates (2,10], fatty acids, and others [11][12][13].…”

“…Relatively limited research, however, has focused on the properties of Cape gooseberry fruit by-products, considered as waste in the industrial process (calyx, seeds, seed/peel pomace), despite their significant amounts and the recognition of their important role in folk medicine, associated with anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, antiseptic, and other pharmacological effects [14]. Cape gooseberry seeds have been identified as sources of protein, essential amino acids, dietetic fibers, minerals, phenolics, and other nutrients [5,6,12,15]. Seeds concentrate about 90% of the total oil content in the fruit [2,11]; due to the high concentration of tocopherols, sterols, vitamins, and other bioactive compounds, seed oil has been assessed as a product of high nutritional value, which could find wider use in functional and dietetic food industry, as well as in phytopharmacy [2,11,12,14,16].…”

Chemical Composition of Pinus nigra Arn. Unripe Seeds from Bulgaria

“…It is the basis of the increasing diversity of plant species, for which the number is over 400,000. It is known that abiotic environmental factors such as humidity, temperature, and sunlight have favorable or adverse effects on plant diversity [1,2]. Plant species have increasing importance for people due to their use in the various spheres, such as pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries, which draw attention to some potential plant species containing biologically active substances.…”