Abstract
Gnagnan (Solanum indicum L.) is a spontaneous plant widely distributed in Ivory Coast. During ripening stages, Solanum indicum L. presents different colours (green, yellow and red) and is reported to contain several albeit poorly characterized antioxidant compounds. This paper describes in detail the antioxidant profile (ascorbic acid, carotenoids and polyphenols), antioxidant capacity (FRAP test and Folin-Ciocalteau assay) and the colour changes of Gnagnan berries at different ripening levels. Ascorbic acid content was similar in green and yellow berries, but significantly lower in red ones. Red berries showed a higher content of carotenoids compared to green and yellow ones. Regarding polyphenols, several phenolic acids and flavonoids were found in all berries. The content of caffeoylquinic acids, caffeic acid, flavonol glycosides and naringenin was higher in red berries, while the content of p-coumaric acid and feruloylquinic acids was similar among the three colours. The FRAP assay increased with the ripening process, whereas total polyphenols were similar among berries. Significant differences were found for the colorimetric indexes among products of different degrees of ripening. The present results show the important role of the ripening stage in increasing the antioxidant content of Gnagnan berries.
Highlights
Solanum indicum L., known as “African nightshade” or “bitter berries”, is cultivated in many parts of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula for culinary purposes
Regarding the change of ascorbic acid content during ripening, the reduction observed in Solanum indicum L. was in agreement with previous data [9], where the maximum content was estimated in tomatoes that turned yellow in colour whereas advanced ripening caused a decrease in ascorbic acid content
In Solanum indicum L., as reported for tomato [22], carotenoids are probably present in crystalline form deposited in chromoplasts and flavonoids are probably concentrated in the peel where they are physically entrapped in the pectin network
Summary
Solanum indicum L., known as “African nightshade” or “bitter berries”, is cultivated in many parts of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula for culinary purposes. From July to October, the local populations eat the vegetable frequently because the product is fresh and savoury [1], though little attention is paid to the degree of ripeness After this period, the dried berries become available on the markets, but the fruits are not appreciated because they become tasteless. Considering the scarce information available on the composition of Gnagnan, the purpose of this study was to characterize the antioxidant content of the berries at different stages of maturation This characterisation should allow the definition of the optimal ripening degree at which this food should be consumed in order to introduce the highest amount of antioxidant phytochemicals
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