Abstract
The genus Passiflora L. is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions. The major species, Passiflora edulis Sims, is known as ‘passion fruit’ and is widely used in processed foods as well as eaten raw. P. edulis fruits are eaten for their pulp together with the seeds; however, the seeds are often discarded when used in processed foods. P. edulis seeds contain a variety of nutrients and functional components, and their industrial use is desirable from the perspective of waste reduction. Previous studies have analyzed the constituents of P. edulis and their physiological functions. P. edulis seeds contain various types of polyphenols, especially those rich in stilbenes (e.g., piceatannol). P. edulis seed extracts and isolated compounds from seeds have been reported to exhibit various physiological functions, such as antioxidant effects, improvement of skin condition, fat-burning promotion effects, and hypoglycemic effects. This review summarizes the nutritional characteristics, polyphenol content, and physiological functions of P. edulis seeds.
Highlights
P. edulis is widely used in processed foods such as juice, and the seeds are often discarded as a by-product
The industrial use of seeds is desired from the viewpoint of waste reduction, and various studies have been conducted on the industrial use of passion fruit seeds
The seeds contain many kinds of polyphenols and especially stilbenes, including piceatannol which is a characteristic compound of P. edulis seeds with a higher content than in other edible plants
Summary
The genus Passiflora L. is a highly diverse plant family with approximately 520 species distributed throughout the tropics of America, Asia, and Africa [1]. Leaf extract has shown a variety of physiological functions, such as being anti-inflammatory [14]; providing intestine protection [15]; and having wound healing [16], antiplatelet [17], and antidepressant effects [18] It has been evaluated in animal studies for its safety when administered [19]. P. edulis seeds are edible and have interesting nutritional and biochemical properties that have nutritional and health benefits [26]; the seeds produced during processed food production are generally discarded after crushing [27]. In Brazil, >40% of passion fruit production is allocated to the juice and pulp industry, which produces large quantities of bagasse, including seeds [3]. We summarize recent studies reporting the nutritional characteristics and functional components of P. edulis seeds and their functions. We summarize the characteristics and functions of stilbene polyphenols, which are characteristic of the seeds’ functional components
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