Underutilised fruits of Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve: a potential source of natural antioxidants

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Research Articles | Published:

Print ISSN : 0970-4078.
Online ISSN : 2229-4473.
Website:www.vegetosindia.org
Pub Email: contact@vegetosindia.org
Doi: 10.1007/s42535-021-00200-6
First Page: 447
Last Page: 452
Views: 1734


Keywords: Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve, Antioxidants, Ascorbic acid, Flavonoids, Phenolics, Underutilised fruits


Abstract

Antioxidant properties of commercial fruits are well investigated however there is little information available about such properties of underutilised fruits. The present study evaluated the antioxidant potential of ten underutilised edible fruits viz., Aporosa cardiosperma (Gaertn.) Merr., Baccaurea courtallensis (Wight) Müll.Arg., Elaeocarpus serratus L., Flacourtia montana J. Graham, Phoenix loureiroi Kunth, Psidium guineense Sw., Spondias pinnata (L.f.) Kurz, Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels, Syzygium gardneri Thwaites and Syzygium zeylanicum (L.) DC. from the Kerala part of Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve. Total phenolic content was determined through Folin–Ciocalteau method, flavonoids by aluminium chloride colorimetric method, ascorbic acid by titrimetric method and antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH radical scavenging assay. Free radical scavenging potentials of the evaluated underutilised fruits were found to be proportional to their respective phenolic, flavonoid and ascorbic acid contents. Amongst all the fruits analysed, Elaeocarpus serratus L., Psidium guineense Sw., Syzygium gardneri Thwaites and Baccaurea courtallensis (Wight) Müll.Arg. exhibited significantly high antioxidant activity and can be explored as viable source of natural antioxidants for functional food and pharmaceutical applications.


Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve, Antioxidants, Ascorbic acid, Flavonoids, Phenolics, Underutilised fruits


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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr. Tenson Antony, Lab Manager, Confederation for Ayurvedic Renaissance- Keralam Limited for the technical guidance and Sri. B Jayalal Kumar, Gardener, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute for the support and encouragement provided during the survey.


Author Information

Chand A. R. Jisha
Research and Development Centre, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India
jishaachand@gmail.com
Azeez K.
PSMO College, Malappuram, India