Comparative analysis of the nutritional profiles of selected Solanum species grown in Sri Lanka

• Published in: Journal of food composition and analysis 2021-06, Vol.99, p.103847, Article 103847
• Main Authors: Nadeeshani, Harshani, Samarasinghe, Gamini, Wimalasiri, Swarna, Silva, Renuka, Hunter, Danny, Madhujith, Terrence
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: GLC; HPLC; ICP-MS; Proximate composition; Retinol; Solanum; α-tocopherol
• ISSN: 0889-1575; 1096-0481
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfca.2021.103847

[Display omitted] •Among Sri Lankan egg plant/brinjal, Solanum torvum is nutritionally superior.•Egg plant/brinjal are rich in minerals, vitamins, PUFA, MUFA and dietary fibre.•S. torvum comprises the highest protein, minerals and vitamins D, E and C.•S. melongena var. insanum contains the highest UFA contents.•Highly commercially cultivated S. melongena contains higher Cd, As and Cr contents. Nutritional profiles of eggplant, aubergine or brinjal (local name, Wambatu) (Solanum melongena L.), eggplant (local name, Elabatu) (Solanum melongena var. insanum L.) and wild eggplant/turkey berry (local name, Thibbatu) (Solanum torvum Sw.) were determined. Healthy and undamaged fruits in medium maturity were collected using stratified random sampling design from all agro-climatic zones of Sri Lanka, sorted and cleaned. Composite samples were prepared by oven drying a portion of the sample at 45 °C and freeze-drying the rest. Proximate composition, mineral contents, fatty acid profile and vitamin composition were determined using standard procedures and presented on fresh weight basis.Among studied Solanum species, the nutritional significance of S. torvum was upheld by the highest quantities of protein, total carbohydrate, almost all minerals, vitamins C, D and E while the nutritional importance of S. melongena var. insanum was highlighted by the highest quantities of PUFA and MUFA. Moreover, S. melongena (Wambatu) comprised of the highest contents of dietary fibre and vitamins K, A, B1 and B2, indicating the higher nutritional value of S. torvum (Thibbatu) and S. melongena (Elabatu). Furthermore, the highest commercially cultivated S. melongena (Wambatu) contained significantly higher amounts of Cd and As than the other two Solanum species tested.