Abstract
Wild fruits are important food resources that provide health promoting nutraceutical components, which vary with ripening stages. In present study, five wild edible fruits of Indian Himalayan Region i.e., Myrica esculenta, Berberis asiatica, Rubus ellipticus, Pyracantha crenulata and Morus alba were examined for their nutraceutical potential at different ripening stages. The results of present study showed that polyphenolic concentration decreased whereas anthocyanin level increased with fruit ripening, however few species and compounds showed different trends. Among the tested fruit species, unripe fruits of B. asiatica followed by M. esculenta were found to be the best for harvesting polyphenolics (especially catechin), while ripen fruits of M. esculenta followed by B. asiatica were found the best for anthocyanin (cyanin and delphinidin) extraction. The results from this study can be effectively used by the harvesters, consumers, traders and food and nutraceutical industries to harness maximum nutraceutical potential depending on the preferred compounds and ripening stages of these species.
Highlights
Wild edible fruits and berries are healthy food resources and are consumed as a potential source of nutrients and minerals since time immemorial
The present study systematically investigated the accumulation of nutraceutically important polyphenolic and anthocyanin compounds during different fruit maturity stages in five wild edible fruit species (i.e. M. esculenta, B. asiatica, R. ellipticus, P. crenulata, and M. alba) of Indian Himalayan Region (IHR)
Fruit length of M. alba, M. esculenta and P. crenulata were found significantly (p < 0.05) higher in ripened stage, no such changes were observed in fruits of B. asiatica and R. ellipticus
Summary
Major Bioactive compounds in Fruits phenolics, anthocyanins, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, β-carotene, gallic acid, caffeic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid flavonoids, phenolics, ascorbic acid, anthocyanins, resveratrol, β-carotene, rutin, gallic acid, cyanidin-3-Oglucoside, quercetin -3-O-glucoside, fatty acid (linolic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid). Keeping this in consideration, the present study systematically investigated the accumulation of nutraceutically important polyphenolic and anthocyanin compounds during different fruit maturity stages in five wild edible fruit species (i.e. M_esculenta, B. asiatica, R. ellipticus, P. crenulata, and M. alba) of IHR. The results of present investigation determines the trends of polyphenolic compounds and anthocyanins during fruit ripening/maturation stages and identified the best stage with maximum polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity. These results will be helpful for the harvesters, consumers and traders to harness maximum nutraceutical potential of these wild edible fruit species of IHR
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