‘Melão croá’ (Sicana sphaericaVell.) and ‘maracujina’ (Sicana odoriferaNaud.): chemical composition, carotenoids, vitamins and minerals in native fruits from the Brazilian Atlantic forest

Abstract

Introduction. In the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, indigenous fruits are part of the eating habits of the population. Among these, 'melão croá' (Sicana sphaerica Vell.) and 'maracujina' (S. odorifera Naud) are rich in bioactive compounds such as carotenoids and antioxidant vitamins. The physical characteristics, physicochemical and proximate composition, concentration of carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin E and minerals were investigated in both fruits found in Atlantic Forest of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Materials and methods. Titratable acidity was analyzed by volumetric neutralization; soluble solids (SS) by refractometry; pH by potentiometry; moisture and ash by gravimetry after drying in an oven and muffle furnace, respectively; proteins by the micro-Kjeldahl method; lipids by gravimetry using soxhlet; dietary fibers by non-enzymatic gravimetry; carotenoids and vitamin C by HPLC-DAD; vitamin E by HPLCfluorescence; minerals by ICP-AES. Results and discussion. S. sphaerica presented the highest concentrations of SS (5.80 • Brix), TA (0.51 g of citric acid 100 g −1), pH (6.95), moisture (83.4 g 100 g −1), carbohydrate (13.38 g 100 g −1), vitamin A (123.33 µg RAE 100 g −1), vitamin C (4.97 mg 100 g −1), vitamin E (334.66 µg 100 g −1), K (28.79 mg 100 g −1), Fe (1.92 mg 100 g −1), and Zn (1.04 mg 100 g −1); while S. odorifera had the highest concentrations of total dietary fibers (1.33 g 100 g −1), lipids (1.00 g 100 g −1), proteins (2.62 g 100 g −1), ash (0.77 g 100 g −1), P (1.26 mg 100 g −1), and Ca (1.74 mg 100 g −1). Conclusion. The analyzed fruit showed a potential source of nutrients that can contribute to reducing food and nutrition insecurity of rural people, especially in the American continent, occurrence region of these fruits.

Valorization of Sicanaodorifera (Vell.) Naudin Epicarp as a Source of Bioactive Compounds: Chemical Characterization and Evaluation of Its Bioactive Properties

“…In the pulp fruit, about 2.35 µg of vitamin E has been quantified in 100 g of fresh mass, with α-tocopherol in the highest amounts (33.28%), followed by α-tocotrienol and δ-tocopherol (21.54% and 16.93%, respectively); and contrary to our results, γ-tocopherol has not been detected in the edible parts of S. odorifera [ 6 ]. Vitamin E, including tocopherols and tocotrienol, is an important phytochemical with health-promoting effects, being present in the human serum and correlated with protection against cardiovascular disorders [ 21 ].…”

“…Only trace amounts of shikimic and fumaric acids were found (below the limits of quantification of the calibration curves). According to the literature, ascorbic acid has been quantified in S. odorifera pulp (1.87 ± 0.08 mg/100 g fw—fresh weight) and in the pulp of another fruit of the same species, namely, in Sicana sphaerica Vell (3.21 ± 0.29 mg/100 g fw) [ 6 ]. However, in the present study, this organic acid was not detected.…”

“…Naudin is an indigenous plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, probably native from Brazil, but also widely spread in other tropical countries in Central America and South America, such as Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Paraguay, where it is popularly known as melon croá, cajuá, cassabanana, sikana, olor melon, and jamelão [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. This fruit presents a long cylindrical size (30–60 cm long and 7–11 cm in diameter), with a weight rounding between 1.4 and 3.0 kg [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. Its fruit pulp of yellow-orange color is appreciated in not only the immature stage, cooked to accompany meals, but also in a fully ripe mature stage, consumed in-natura form or used in the preparation of jams and juices [ 5 , 8 , 10 ].…”

“…Due its pleasant unique odor, S. odorifera is popularly used to perfume clothes and houses [ 5 , 11 ], mainly due to its rich profile in volatile compounds, such as methyl-2-butanol, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, 4-hydroxybenzyl methyl ether, and 2-phenylethanol, among others [ 5 ]. There are also a few studies regarding its nutritional value [ 6 , 7 , 10 ], and even S. odorifera pulp polysaccharide composition [ 8 ]. The literature regarding the non-edible (peels and seeds) parts of S. odorifera is even scarcer.…”

Evaluation of mass transfer during the osmotic dehydration of pumpkin slices (Sicana odorifera naud)

“…The functional properties of these fruits have been widely attributed to their high levels of phenolic compounds, carotenoids and ascorbic acid [2]. The genus Sicana belongs to the botanical family Cucurbitaceae, which comprises a group of native Brazilian plants found in the northeastern and southeastern regions, and spread through Central and South America as (Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia) [3]. Now, Sicana Odorifera (Vell), a plant belonging to the group of curbitáceas families, are rich in bioactive compounds such as carotenoids and antioxidant vitamins.…”