Abstract
Twenty-two samples (including fruits, pulp, peel, or seeds) from 13 edible and medicinal fruit plant species selected in Hong Kong were investigated for their antioxidant capacity, nutritional quality and phenolic profiles. Significant variation existed among the tested samples in all the antioxidant and nutritional parameters. Proanthocyanidins, flavonoids and phenolic acids were identified as major categories of phenolic compounds in these samples. Whole fruits of Hong Kong gordonia exhibited the strongest antioxidant capacity (213.4. mmol trolox/100. g. DW) and had the second highest content of carotenoids. Seeds of Annona squamosa possessed the highest contents of total protein, fat and amino acids (17.6, 37.2 and 14.4%, respectively). Most peel and some seeds contained high levels of phenolics, carotenoids and vitamin C, which contributed to their strong antioxidant activity. Some of the fruits, peel or seeds from these Hong Kong plants can be a potential resource of functional components and nutraceuticals.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 510-517 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Food Composition and Analysis |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 2010 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Amino acids
- Antioxidant capacity
- Biodiversity and wild foods
- Edible and medicinal fruit plants
- Fat
- Food analysis
- Food composition
- Nutritional quality
- Phenolic compounds
- Protein