Physicochemical quality, bioactive compounds and in vitro antioxidant activity of a new variety of passion fruit cv. BRS Sertão Forte (Passiflora cincinnata Mast.) from Brazilian Semiarid region

Abstract

Passiflora cincinnata Mast cv. BRS Sertão Forte is a cultivar resultant from the genetic improvement of the species Passiflora cincinnata, popularly known as maracujá-da-Caatinga, which presents higher field yield and pulp productivity compared to the native plant and may represent an alternative to the exotic fruit market, intended for in natura consumption or industrialization. Thus, this study characterized the physicochemical composition and accessed the phenolic compounds profile and the antioxidant potential of these fruits in different suitable for consumption ripening stages. The mature pulps had a higher content of ascorbic acid (17.67 mg 100 g−1), sugars (3.16 %), β-carotene (16.62 μg 100 g−1) and total flavonoids (155.62 mg 100 g−1). Mineral contents like K (413.34 mg 100 g−1) in mature pulps and Ca (40.59 mg 100 g−1) in pulps with intermediate maturation stood out. The major phenolics in the pulps are isoquercetin (32.25 μg g−1) and caftaric acid (7.5 μg g−1) with higher content in intermediate maturing pulps, and rutin (7.46 μg g−1) with higher content in the mature pulps. These bioactive compounds contribute to the antioxidant activity observed in the ORAC, DPPH and FRAP assays. It is concluded that, when compared to other Passiflora species, the passion fruit 'BRS Sertão Forte' is a fruit with distinct mineral contents such as K and Ca and bioactive compounds, and it has promising potential for cultivation in semiarid regions.