Identification of Fructooligosaccharides in Different Banana Cultivars

Abstract

Banana has been currently indicated as a good source of fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which are considered to be functional components of foods. However, significant differences in their amounts in bananas have been observed in the literature. This work aims to identify and quantify FOS during ripening in different banana cultivars belonging to the most common genomic groups cultivated in Brazil. Considering that these differences can be due to cultivar, stage of ripening, and the methodologies used for FOS analyses, sugar contents were analyzed by high performance anion exchange chromatography-pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). An initial screening of eight cultivars (Ouro, Nanicão, Prata, Maçã, Mysore, Pacovan, Terra, and Figo) in a full-ripe stage showed that 1-kestose, the first member of the FOS series (amounts between 297 and 1600 microg/g of DM), was accumulated in all of them. Nystose, the second member, was detected only in Prata cultivar. Five of the cultivars were analyzed during ripening, and a strong correlation could be established with a specific sucrose level ( approximately 200 mg/g of DM), which seems to trigger the synthesis of 1-kestose (the low amounts of FOS, below the functional recommended dose, indicates that banana cannot be considered a good source of FOS).

Physicochemical properties of three sugary cassava landraces

“…The analytical column employed was a Carbopac PA1 (250×4mm, 5µm particle size). The flow rate was kept constant at 1.0mL min -1 , and an isocratic run of 18mM (NaOH) over 25min (DER AGOPIAN et al, 2008).…”

Fructan distribution in banana cultivars and effect of ripening and processing on Nendran banana

“…In contrast, Muir et al (2007) did not detect fructan in Australian banana. As observed from Table 3, banana cultivars from Brazil had high and varied content of kestose, while nystose was detected only in one cultivar -Prata (Agopian et al 2008). These differences in the fructan content can be …”

Expression analysis of a set of genes related to the ripening of bananas and mangoes

“…The hybridization of FFT sequence to the cDNA from bananas and mangoes opens the possibility of occurrence of a similar enzyme in those fruits. In fact, although not considered as a relevant source of fructose polymers, the biosynthesis of fructans seems to be an operative pathway in banana fruit pulp (Agopian et al, 2008). Similarly, it is likely that it occurs in mango, as denoted by the threefold increase in FFT ratio, especially if one considers that fructose is the predominant monosaccharide in this fruit (Simão et al, 2008).…”