Bioactive constituents and health promoting compounds of few wild edible fruits of North-East India

• Published in: International journal of food properties 2024-12, Vol.27 (1), p.927-950
• Main Authors: Ngurthankhumi, Rody, Hazarika, T. K., Lalruatsangi, Esther, Lalnunsangi, T., Lalhmangaihzuali, H. P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthocyanins; Anti-nutrients; Biodiversity; Cellulose; Citrus grandis; Dry matter; Fruits; Garcinia kydia; Hemicellulose; Mahonia nepalensis; Myrica esculenta; north-east India; nutrients; PCA; Prunus undulata; Syzygium cumini; Tamarindus indica; Vitamin E; wild edible fruits
• ISSN: 1094-2912; 1532-2386
• DOI: 10.1080/10942912.2024.2374498

Wild edible fruits provide a valuable source of sustenance and economic benefit for indigenous communities, which being often overlooked and underexploited. In order to meet the growing need for alternative nutritional sources, we conducted a study to evaluate the nutritional composition of seven (7) wild edible fruits viz. pummelo (Citrus grandis), kuji-thekera (Garcinia kydia), Nepal berry (Mahonia nepaulensis), bayberry (Myrica esculenta), laurel cherry (Prunus undulata), wild jamun (Syzygium cumini), and tamarind (Tamarindus indica) of Mizoram, north-east India. The research demonstrates that Mahonia napaulensis contains significant amounts of anthocyanin (678 ± 28 mg 100 g −1 ), carotenoid (1.64 ± 0.01 mg 100 g −1 ), total sugars (21 ± 4%), non-reducing sugars (9 ± 2%), and TSS 16.07 ± 0.32 °B. Myrica esculenta exhibited high levels of vitamin E (23.8 ± 0.6 mg 100 g −1 ), carbohydrate (79.84 ± 3.74%), moisture (89 ± 1%), cellulose (67.4 ± 0.7 mg 100 g −1 ), and Mn (28 ± 1 mg 100 g −1 ). Tamarindus indica is rich in starch (10.68 ± 0.30 mg 100 g −1 ), protein (60 ± 1%), energy (490 ± 12 kcal), dry matter (41 ± 1%), crude fiber (20.8 ± 0.4%), lignin (13.69 ± 0.01%), hemicellulose (12.09 ± 0.01%), Ca (398 ± 82 mg 100 g −1 ), Cu (33 ± 6 mg 100 g −1 ) and Zn (11.4 ± 0.7 mg 100 g −1 ). The findings suggest that all fruits exhibit nutritional and anti-nutritional characteristics, making them very potential for use in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical sectors. The outcomes will provide a fundamental repository of the nutritional composition of these fruits and raise public consciousness about the significance of the fruit, promoting the conservation of the biodiversity.