Phytochemical Composition, Antibacterial Activity, and Antioxidant Properties of the Artocarpus altilis Fruits to Promote Their Consumption in the Comoros Islands as Potential Health-Promoting Food or a Source of Bioactive Molecules for the Food Industry

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the health-promoting potential of breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg, Moraceae family), a traditional Comorian food, considering the sample variability according to geographic localisation. Moreover, the main aims of this research were also to promote its consumption in the Comoros Islands as potential health-promoting food and evaluate it as a source of bioactive molecules for the food industry thanks to its antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Investigations on biologically active substances were carried out on the extracts obtained from breadfruit flours from five regions of Grande Comore (Ngazidja), the main island in Comoros. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins and polyphenols, flavonoids, leucoanthocyanins, steroids, and triterpenes. The considered secondary metabolites were phenolic compounds, vitamin C, monoterpenes, and organic acids. The contents of total phenolic compounds (mgGAE/100 g of dry weight—DW) in the extracts ranged from 29.69 ± 1.40 (breadfruit from Mbadjini—ExMBA) to 96.14 ± 2.07 (breadfruit from Itsandra—ExITS). These compounds included flavanols, flavonols, cinnamic acid and benzoic acid derivatives, and tannins which were detected at different levels in the different extracts. Chlorogenic acid presented the highest levels between 26.57 ± 0.31 mg/100 g DW (ExMIT) and 43.80 ± 5.43 mg/100 g DW (ExMBA). Quercetin was by far the most quantitatively important flavonol with levels ranging from 14.68 ± 0.19 mg/100 g DW (ExMIT) to 29.60 ± 0.28 mg/100 g DW (ExITS). The extracts were also rich in organic acids and monoterpenes. Quinic acid with contents ranging from 77.25 ± 6.04 mg/100 g DW (ExMBA) to 658.56 ± 0.25 mg/100 g DW of ExHAM was the most important organic acid in all the breadfruit extracts, while limonene was quantitatively the main monoterpene with contents between 85.86 ± 0.23 mg/100 g DW (ExMIT) and 565.45 ± 0.24 mg/100 g DW (ExITS). The antibacterial activity of the extracts was evaluated on twelve pathogens including six Gram (+) bacteria and six Gram (−) bacteria. By the solid medium disc method, except for Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, all the bacteria were sensitive to one or more extracts. Inhibitory Halo Diameters (IHDs) ranged from 8 mm to 16 mm. Salmonella enterica, Clostridium perfringens, and Vibrio fischeri were the most sensitive with IHD > 14 mm for ExITS. By the liquid microdilution method, MICs ranged from 3.12 mg/mL to 50 mg/mL and varied depending on the extract. Bacillus megaterium was the most sensitive with MICs ≤ 12.5 mg/mL. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella flexneri, and Vibrio fischeri were the least sensitive with all MICs ≥ 12.5 mg/mL. ExHAM was most effective with a MIC of 3.12 mg/mL on Staphylococcus aureus and 6.25 mg/mL on Salmonella enterica. The antioxidant power of the extracts was evaluated by the FRAP method. The activity ranged from 5.44 ± 0.35 (ExMBA) to 14.83 ± 0.11 mmol Fe2+/kg DW (ExHAM). Breadfruit from different regions of Comoros contained different classes of secondary metabolites well known for their important pharmacological properties. The results of this study on phenolics, monoterpenes, and organic acids have provided new data on these fruits. The obtained results showed that breadfruit from the biggest island of the Union of Comoros also presented antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, even if some differences in effectiveness existed between fruits from different regions.

SKRINING DAN UJI AKTIVITAS ANTIOKSIDAN EKSTRAK ETANOL DAUN SUKUN (Artocarpus altilis) DENGAN METODE FRAP (FERRIC REDUCING ANTIOXIDANT POWER)

“…Penelitian aktivitas antioksidan dengan metode FRAP pada daun sukun juga diteliti oleh (Soifoini et al, 2021) dimana daun sukun diambil di daerah Grand Comore. Penelitian tersebut menggunakan teknik maserasi dengan 3 pelarut yaitu metanol, air dan HCl dengan rasio 95:4,7:0,3 (v/v/v).…”

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis): Processing, nutritional quality, and food applications

“…Handa et al (88) found that many of breadfruit's phytochemicals confer beneficial biological activity such as anti-bacterial activity, platelet aggregation, anti-fungal properties, anti-tumor agents, and inhibition of leukemia cells. Cinnamic acids and chlorogenic acid were the main phytochemicals found in breadfruit pulp (89,90). Cinnamic acid undergoes rapid metabolism and have shown low bioavailability in the human body making the actualization of therapeutical effects difficult (91).…”

Biogenic Phytochemicals Modulating Obesity: From Molecular Mechanism to Preventive and Therapeutic Approaches

“…Alkaloid with antiobesity property isolated, synephrine from Citrus aurantium , nuciferine from Nelumbo nucifera , piperine and piperlongumine from Piper nigrum . Green coffee reduced body fat by decreasing the absorption of glucose [ 136 – 138 ]. Phenols are an important phytochemical and reduce the risk of obesity such as p-hydroxybenzoic, cinnamic acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric, and cinnamic acid [ 139 – 141 ].…”