Moroccan Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo L.) Fruits: Nutritional Value and Mineral Composition

Abstract

The strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.), grown throughout the Mediterranean, produces edible fruit; as it is easily bruised, the sweet, reddish fruit is used mostly to prepare jams, marmalades and alcoholic beverages. As the genus is paraphyletic, phytochemical analysis can assist in defining the fruit composition with the species Arbutus unedo L. (A. unedo). Here we report on the carbohydrate, total sugar, protein, fat, fiber, ash, and mineral content of wild fruit, harvested from 45 specimens from five locations. The dominant nutrients were carbohydrates (78.2–84.8 g/100 g), total sugars (52.1–67.2 g/100 g) and dietary fiber (11.0–20.1 g/100 g). Other important nutrients supplied by A. unedo fruit include P, K, and Fe. The fruit was observed to contain health-promoting components providing 42 and 36%, of recommended daily allowance (RDA) for fiber and zinc, respectively, as well as iron and manganese, at levels exceeding minimum RDA. The free-sugar profile revealed high glucose followed by fructose content with minor amounts of sucrose (14, 11, and 6 g/100 g, respectively). Significant differences both between regions and within individuals were observed for several traits. The richness of fruit nutrients in A. unedo confers nutritional value and as such, a promising alternative fruit source.

Anti-Obesity Actions of Two Separated Aqueous Extracts From Arbutus (Arbutus unedo) and Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) Fruits Against High-Fat Diet in Rats via Potent Antioxidant Target

“…56 Many phytochemical compounds have been reported in the AUAE, including vitamins, carotenoids, flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins, and their derivatives are the most prevalent. [57][58][59][60][61] CMAE contains high levels of numerous valuable secondary metabolites especially flavonoid, vitamin C, glycoside, anthocyanin, saponin, tannin, and phenolic compounds. [62][63][64][65] According to the phytochemical compound findings, the results concerning the A. unedo polyphenolic contents are higher than another study which found it between 9.51 and 19.73 mg GAE/g, DW).…”

“…Many phytochemical compounds have been reported in the AUAE, including vitamins, carotenoids, flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins, and their derivatives are the most prevalent. 57-61 CMAE contains high levels of numerous valuable secondary metabolites especially flavonoid, vitamin C, glycoside, anthocyanin, saponin, tannin, and phenolic compounds. 62-65…”

Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Identified Species-Specific SSR and SNP Markers, Allow the Unequivocal Identification of Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo L.) Germplasm Accessions and Contribute to Assess Their Genetic Relationships

“…Long time used for human and well-being purposes, the strawberry tree leaves and fruits are presently the subjects of a profusion of studies on their chemical and biochemical composition and respective biological activities [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ], which have already extended to roots [ 8 ] and derived products (e.g., distillates) [ 2 , 9 ]. All this research activity has led to the publication of several reviews on this wide topic [ 10 , 11 ].…”

Effect of Apple Juice Enrichment with Selected Plant Materials: Focus on Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity

“…For this purpose, a detailed analysis of the scientific literature was conducted to confirm the safe usage of the chosen plant materials and their by-products. A. unedo fruits are eaten fresh and are well known for being processed mainly into alcoholic drinks, marmalades, jams, and jellies [25,26]; no toxic effects were reported [27]. M. communis berries are edible [28,29], and the most known application is the hydroalcoholic infusion of myrtle berries in order to obtain the famous Sardinian sweet liqueur [30].…”