Leveraging the Cucumis melo Wastes

Natural Antioxidant Potential of Melon Peels for Fortified Foods

“…Instead, cultivars Iperione, SV7881, and Eminenza contain fewer polyphenols compared to the former study. The very different values could be related to several factors, among them those regulating the growth of the fruit, the genotype, the degree of ripeness at harvesting, and the environmental and geospatial conditions [ 5 , 11 , 22 , 34 ]. Other studies pointed out melon rinds as rich sources of bioactive compounds with relevant antioxidant activity.…”

“…Different management methods are available to avoid environmental problems while at the same time helping the economy and society, including the use of food waste for making new food products [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Reutilization through a bio-refinery concept represents a solution to the reduction of food waste’s volume and absolutely comes with the objectives of a circular economy based on the paradigm of reduction, reuse, and recycling [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Thus, information on the compositional value of waste parts is a crucial and primary aspect of the recovery program based on circular action.…”

“…Cantaloupe fruit (var. reticulatus ) is not only rich in carotenoids, vitamin C, and microelements such as potassium and magnesium [ 5 , 6 , 10 ], but it is also a potential source of natural compounds that inhibit oxidation and therefore have potential use in food and nutraceutical applications [ 5 , 6 , 10 , 11 ]. Among antioxidants, polyphenols are a class of specialized metabolites, of which cantaloupe is bounteous.…”

“…The cantaloupe peels are usually unexploited; nevertheless, they represent a large part of the fruit weight (around 25–44%), retaining a high concentration of phytochemical compounds [ 5 , 14 , 15 ]. The hydromethanolic extract of peel from Mexican varieties of market melons was studied and showed a large quantity of polyphenols, particularly isovanillic, 3-hydroxybenzoic, chlorogenic, and neochlorogenic acids.…”

“…To get comprehensive information about peel composition characteristics and bioactive properties, the enzymatic activities related to antioxidant and maturation processes were also investigated. To the best of our knowledge, studies about oxidative and degradative activities have never been conducted on cantaloupe peels [ 5 , 17 ], despite several patented active supplements from melon pulp and juice that have been developed recently. SOD B Dimpless ® and Extramel ® are nutraceutical products based on natural extracts of melons, to mention some of them currently on sale, and containing active superoxide dismutase that claim a list of health benefits [ 18 , 19 ].…”