Elsevier

Food Research International

Volume 44, Issue 7, August 2011, Pages 1671-1701
Food Research International

Review
The multiple nutrition properties of some exotic fruits: Biological activity and active metabolites

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2011.03.003Get rights and content

Abstract

The main objective of this review was to describe the physicochemical and nutritional characteristics of twenty selected exotic fruits and the influence of their physiologically active compounds on human health, through scientifically proven information. The review presents the biologically active metabolites derived from exotic fruits (polyphenols, flavonoids, flavanols, tannins, ascorbic acid, anthocyanins, volatile compounds, minerals, and organic acids) and various analytical methods for their detection (elemental analysis, electrophoretic separation by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and fast protein liquid and ion-exchange chromatography; GC–MS, HPLC/diode array detection (DAD), circular dichroism (CD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), ultraviolet spectroscopy, two- and three-dimensional fluorimetry (2D-FL) and (3D-FL), and antioxidant radical scavenging assays (DPPH, FRAP, CUPRAC, ABTS, and ORAC). The correlation between the polyphenols and other bioactive compounds, and their antioxidant activities was reported for different fruit extracts. During the last two decades our international scientific group investigated in vitro the physicochemical and nutritional characteristics of avocado, dragon fruit, durian, kiwifruit, mango, mangosteen, persimmon and snake fruit, and in vivo their influence on laboratory animals and humans. Supplementation of diets with exotic fruits positively affects plasma lipid profile, antioxidant activity and histological examination of aorta in rats fed cholesterol-containing diets.

The interaction between drugs and serum albumin plays an important role in the distribution and metabolism of drugs. The properties of polyphenol methanol extracts of exotic fruits showed the ability to quench serum albumin by forming the complexes similar with the ones between proteins and pure flavonoids. Our experimental data and a wide range of other investigations are included in this review. In conclusion, it is nessasary to promote a consumption of exotic fruits (a rich source of natural antioxidants) as a supplement to everyday human diet.

Introduction

The major source of biologically active substances, such as vitamins and secondary metabolites (polyphenols, carotenoids, sterols, glucosinolates, and saponins) is present in herbs, fruits and vegetables (Alothman et al., 2009, Cassileth, 2008, Xu et al., 2004, Yang et al., 2007, Yuka et al., 2003). The consumption of fruits and vegetables is globally insufficient and should be encouraged, and it may be useful to enhance fruit concentrations of vitamins and secondary metabolites by genetic and/or environmental approaches (Poiroux-Gonord et al., 2010). It has been shown that individuals who eat daily five servings or more of fruits and vegetables have approximately half the risk of developing a wide variety of cancer types, particularly those of the gastrointestinal tract (Gescher, Pastorino, Plummer, & Manson, 1998). The collected data (Burton-Freeman, 2010) suggest that consuming phenolic-rich fruits increase the antioxidant capacity of the blood. When the fruits are consumed with high fat and carbohydrate pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory meals, they may counterbalance their negative effects. It was reported that one of the important predisposing mechanisms in the development of atherosclerosis is oxidation of the cholesterol-rich LDL-C particles (Aviram, 1993, Steinberg et al., 1989, Witztum and Steinberg, 1991). The oxidation of LDL-C enhances its atherogenicity and facilitates penetration of lipids into the arterial wall, causing the occlusion of arteries in general and coronary arteries in particular. It is now known that nutritional antioxidants in general, especially phenolic substances, can prevent lipid peroxidation. It was shown that a low level of plasma antioxidants leads to a high mortality from coronary atherosclerosis (Rankin et al., 1993). Therefore, some authors propose diets rich in vegetables and fruits, which are the natural source of antioxidants (Lorgeril et al., 1994). There is evidence that fruits and vegetables are playing a beneficial role in prevention and even treatment of different diseases (Kris-Etherton et al., 2002, Lim et al., 2007, Luximon-Ramma et al., 2003, Paganga et al., 1999, Proteggente et al., 2002). Some studies have shown that dietary fiber and polyphenols of fruits improve lipid metabolism and prevent the oxidation of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), which hinder the development of atherosclerosis (Gorinstein, Bartnikowska, et al., 1998, Gorinstein, Kulasek, et al., 1998; Gorinstein, Zemser, Haruenkit, et al., 1999, Gorinstein, Zemser, Vargas-Albores, et al., 1999). Indeed, recent experiments on rats fed diets supplemented with persimmon show that this fruit exercises a marked antioxidant effect that is most likely due to a relatively high content of polyphenols (Gorinstein et al., 2010). Some studies have shown the effect of various phenols such as gallic acid, myricetin, flavan-3-ols (1)-catechin and (2)-epicatechin, and others as antioxidants. Gallic acid occurs naturally in plants and has been found to be pharmacologically active as an antioxidant, antimutagenic, and anticarcinogenic agent. It is an established fact that supplementation of diet with fruits and vegetables prevents atherosclerosis and other diseases (Duttaroy & Jorgensen, 2004). It was shown that consumption of kiwifruit lowered blood triglyceride levels by 15% compared with control. The authors reported that consuming two or three kiwifruit per day for 28 days reduced platelet aggregation response to collagen (Duttaroy & Jorgensen, 2004). It was demonstrated that consumption of certain berries and fruits such as blueberries, mixed grape and kiwifruit, was associated with increased plasma hydrophilic (H-) or lipophilic (L-) antioxidant capacity (AOC) measured as Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC). AOC in the postprandial state and consumption of an energy source of macronutrients containing no antioxidants was associated with a decline in plasma AOC. Previous studies (Chidambara, Kotamballi, Jayaprakasha, & Patil, 2010) have demonstrated that d-limonene inhibits cancer cells (pulmonary, colon and breast) based on cell culture and animal studies. d-Limonene, a major monoterpene found in citrus, represents for 40–90% of volatile components (Chidambara et al., 2010). Fruit flavor is important for human health. Many fruits including citrus, berries, mangosteen, pomegranate, have attracted much attention of their health benefits due to the wide range of bioactivities (Chen & Wang, 2008). The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antimicrobial activities are connected with phytochemicals, such as anthocyanins, flavonoids, polyphenolics, and vitamins. Similar biological activities of the essential oils in fruit seeds, flesh and peels have not been paid enough attention compared with those of non-volatile chemicals. The chemical compounds and metabolites of fruit flavors, as well as their bioactivities and bioavailabilities in relation to their potential impact on human health and diseases have to be studied. In recent years some pharmacological activities such as anti-tyrosinase, anti-glycated and anticancer activities, and memory-enhancing effects of longan aril, pericarp or seed extract have been found, implicating a significant contribution to human health (Yang, Jiang, Shi, Chen, & Ashraf, 2011-this issue). The synergetic effect, which could exist between individual bioactive compounds, means that the antioxidant capacity may be higher than their sum (Poeggeler et al., 1995), and not only individual bioactive compounds, but also the overall antioxidant capacity have to be determined in fruits. Some antioxidant assays give different antioxidant activity trends (Ou, Huang, Hampsch-Woodill, Flanagan, & Deemer, 2002). Total phenolics, flavonoids and flavanols of natural products and related to these compounds antioxidant activity have a health protective effect (Andreasen et al., 2000, Leontowicz et al., 2006, Leontowicz et al., 2007, Lim et al., 2007, Shui and Leong, 2005, Yang et al., 2007, Zadernowski et al., 2009). Exotic fruits play exactly the same role in the prevention of atherosclerosis, therefore a detailed description has to be paid to this kind of fruits. Tropical fruit crops are common in the geographical zone stretching from 30 south latitude with up to 30 north latitude. Temperature conditions in this area differ (the average in year 25 °C, while the oscillations are observed from 16 to 36 °C). In the tropics, the maximum number of cultivated plant families: here are grown not only plants that are in the culture of temperate and subtropical zones, but also endemic to many families. In tropical countries, fruits play a major role in human life. Bananas, breadfruit and papaya trees, nuts, coconut and fruit of date palms are among the basic food of the population in the tropics. A large number of exotic fruits can be seen in Malaysia throughout the year (Alothman et al., 2009, Ikram et al., 2009). Among the variety of fruits that can be distinguished are papaya, rambutan, guava, chiku, coconut, durian, pineapple, mango, watermelon, dooku, mangosteen, bananas, pomelo, jumbo sweet flag and cannon. Lorenzi, Bacher, Lacerda, and Sartori (2006) described 827 tropical fruits, including 389 species and 438 cultivars in Brazil. Tropical and subtropical fruits, such as mango, guava, papaya, persimmon and many others, are well known in North America and Europe, and the scientific basis for their consumption is well founded (Dube et al., 2004, Garcia et al., 2005, Leontowicz et al., 2006). Tropical and subtropical fruits, such as red and white guava, green and ripe mango, banana, passion fruit, star fruit, rose apple, papaya, lime, passiflora, kumquat, pineapple, carambola, feijoa, kiwano, cherimoya, sapodilla, mamey, lychee and longan, are common ingredients of diets in North America and nowadays in Europe as well (De Assis et al., 2009, Doyama et al., 2005, Dube et al., 2004, Kondo et al., 2005, Luximon-Ramma et al., 2003, Mahattanatawee et al., 2005, Murcia et al., 2001, Nilsson et al., 2005, Proteggente et al., 2002, Talcott et al., 2003; Wu et al., 2005, Yuka et al., 2003). The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activities and polyphenol contents of some tropical dried fruits were evaluated and compared with fresh fruits. The qualities of persimmon, hawthorn and apricot were close to those of the dry fruits and showed high DPPH radical-scavenging activity (Ishiwata et al., 2004, Park et al., 2006). The consumption of new exotic fruits has significantly increased (Corral-Aguayo et al., 2008, Haruenkit et al., 2007, Haruenkit et al., 2010, Luximon-Ramma et al., 2003). Among these fruits durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) is less known than mango (Mangifera indica L.) (Dutta et al., 2008, Masibo and He, 2008, Melo et al., 2008, Robles-Sanchez et al., 2009, Wu and Ke, 2008) and avocado (Persea americana) (Elez-Martinez, Soliva-Fortuny, Gorinstein, & Martín-Belloso, 2005). It was shown that durian (Haruenkit et al., 2010), mango (Masibo and He, 2008, Robles-Sanchez et al., 2007, Robles-Sanchez et al., 2009) and avocado (Elez-Martinez et al., 2005) possesses high nutritional and bioactive properties. Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) is rich in bioactive compounds especially in polyphenols (Park et al., 2006, Park et al., 2006, Park et al., 2006).

This review describes the bioactivity of 20 exotic fruits, their properties and their influence on metabolism as supplementation to human diet. The volatile substances, fatty acids and other metabolites which are important for the human health are reviewed. Till now such review on exotic fruits was not published, because this review is based not only on the literature data, but also on some of our experiments, which are for the first time reported in the review. The collected data are important from the point of the comparison of 20 exotic fruits in their fresh form exactly as these fruits are mostly consumed in human diet.

Section snippets

Açaí

The homeland of açaí (Euterpe oleracea, acaizeiro) is northern Brazil and the most abundant palm açaí grows in the Brazilian state of Pará. Açaí fruit has an unusual taste, which is reminiscent of the taste of raspberries and blackberries with a touch of walnut, and especially rich in iron, vitamins B1 and E. The outside skin is of a similar texture as a blueberry, smooth on the exterior to the touch, showing the same size, shape, and color. The inside of the açai berry is soft and is easily

Comparison between different exotic fruits

Comparison of exotic fruits was described in many reports (Gorinstein, Zemser, Haruenkit, et al., 1999, Gorinstein, Zemser, Vargas-Albores, et al., 1999, Chen et al., 2010, Mahattanatawee et al., 2006, Lang and Ke, 2006, Cho, 2010). Reported comparison of some exotic fruits by 3D-FL showed one main peak in methanol extracts at the approximate location of λem/ex 340/275 nm and a minor one at λem/ex 660/275 nm. There were some red shifts in the peak location and their intensity. The wavelength

Conclusions

The review presents the bioactivity in general and biologically active metabolites in particular derived from avocado, dragon fruit, durian, kiwifruit, mango, mangosteen, persimmon, snake and other exotic fruits. The polyphenols, flavonoids, flavanols, tannins, ascorbic acid, anthocyanins and volatile compounds were described by various analytical methods.

Most of the reported exotic fruits contain high amounts of bioactive compounds and possess high antioxidant potential. The supplementation of

Acknowledgments

The corresponding author (S. G.) is thankful to Prof. Anderson de Souza San't Ana for his support and initiative in writing this review. The authors are thankful to Dr. Elena Katrich (School of Pharmacy, Hebrew University of Jerusalem) for her assistance in determination of antioxidant activity and 3D fluorescence. The authors are thankful to the Chantaburi Salacca Grower Association, Chantaburi, Thailand, for the donation of fruit samples.

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