September 05, 2022 | Nutrients |
Conducted by Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A. C., Mexico, this study delves into the lesser-consumed tropical fruits, including açaí, lychee, mamey, passion fruit, and jackfruit, which collectively accounted for approximately 6.35% of the total world production of tropical fruits in 2018, amounting to about 6.8 million tons.
The research reviews the nutritional content, bioactive compound profile, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity of these fruits and their by-products, focusing on their ability to modulate oxidative stress through phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and dietary fiber. Açaí pulp emerges as a notable source of anthocyanins, while mamey pulp stands out for its richness in carotenoids, and passion fruit peel is highlighted for its dietary fiber content. Additionally, jackfruit contains unique compounds like moracin C and artocarpesin, which play crucial roles in regulating inflammation pathways.
These bioactive compounds make these fruits potentially valuable as food ingredients for nutritional purposes or alternative therapies. Further research is recommended to validate their health benefits, potentially increasing their marketability and benefiting primary producers, processing industries, and consumers. Additionally, the integral use of their by-products could contribute to the circular bioeconomy.