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Proximate Composition, Mineral Contents and Fatty Acid Composition of the Different Parts and Dried Peels of Tropical Fruits Cultivated in Brazil

Abstract

The proximate composition, mineral contents and fatty acid composition of different parts (peel, pulp and seeds) of seven tropical fruits were evaluated. Beyond that, this study aims to evaluate the effect of drying processing on peels. Pulp and peel showed highest moisture values (65.7-93.3%), while the seed ranged from 5.8 to 67.2%. The drying processing of peels decreased moisture values (2.3-18.7%). Furthermore, drying processing did not affect ash contents, total crude protein, lipids and fiber values and fatty acid composition for avocado, pineapple, banana, papaya, passion fruit, watermelon and melon. A wide range of mineral contents was noted in different parts of fruit and calcium and potassium were found in larger quantities (25.4 to 4808 mg per 100 g). The fruits exhibited essential fatty acids as omega-6 and omega-3 with the largest contents observed in the peels and seeds (31.4 to 1970 mg per 100 g).

Keywords:
fruit composition; pulp; seed; raw peel; oven dried peel; freeze dried peel


Introduction

Fruit consumption has increased worldwide because of taste, disease prevention and health benefits due to the presence of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, fiber and other bioactive compounds needed by the human body for a healthy life.11 Guo, C.; Yang, J.; Wei, J.; Li, Y.; Xu, J.; Jiang Y.; Nutr. Res. 2003, 23, 1719.

2 Hossain, M. A.; Rahman, S. M. M.; Food Res. Int. 2011, 44, 672.
-33 Ribeiro, A. B.; Bonafé, E. G.; Silva, B. C.; Montanher, P. F.; Santos Jr., O. S.; Boeing, J. S.; Visentainer, J. V.; J. Braz. Chem. Soc. 2013, 24, 797. However, the increase in consumption of these fruits also implies an increment in the volume of waste generated, especially peels and seeds. Furthermore, byproducts (peel and seed) from different fruits can be important sources for valuable chemicals.44 Morais, D. R.; Rotta, E. M.; Sargi, S. C.; Schimidt, E. M.; Bonafé, E. G.; Eberlin, M. N.; Sawaya, A. C. H. F.; Visentainer, J. V.; Food Res. Int. 2015, 77, 392.

According to the related literature,44 Morais, D. R.; Rotta, E. M.; Sargi, S. C.; Schimidt, E. M.; Bonafé, E. G.; Eberlin, M. N.; Sawaya, A. C. H. F.; Visentainer, J. V.; Food Res. Int. 2015, 77, 392.

5 Moo-Huchin, V. M.; Moo-Huchin, M. I.; Estrada-León, R. J.; Cuevas-Glory, L.; Estrada-Mota, I. A.; Ortez-Vázquez, E.; Betancur-Ancona, D.; Sauri-Duch, E.; Food Chem. 2015, 166, 17.
-66 Santos, L. P.; Morais, D. R.; Souza, N. E.; Cottica, S. M.; Boroski, M.; Visentainer, J. V.; J. Food Res. 2011, 44, 1414. peels and seeds can present higher nutrient contents than pulp fruits. However, the peels are highly perishable, mainly due to the large amount of water in their composition. Different drying techniques such as air circulation oven66 Santos, L. P.; Morais, D. R.; Souza, N. E.; Cottica, S. M.; Boroski, M.; Visentainer, J. V.; J. Food Res. 2011, 44, 1414. and freeze drying can be applied in fruit peels to delay perishing.

Neri-Numa et al.77 Neri-Numa, I. A.; Carvalho-Silva, L. B.; Morales, J. P.; Malta, L. G.; Muramoto, M. T.; Ferreira, J. E. M.; de Carvalho, J. E.; Ruiz, A. L. T. G.; Junior, M. R. M.; Pastore, G. M.; Food Res. Int. 2013, 50, 70. related that Brazil has a wide variety of cultivated fruits, such as, avocado (Persea americana), pineapple (Ananas comosus), banana (Musa sp.), papaya (Carica papaya), passion fruit (Passiflora edulis), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and melon (Cucumis melo). Berto et al.88 Berto, A.; Silva, A. F.; Visentainer, J. V.; Matsushita, M.; Souza, N. E.; Food Res. Int. 2015, 77, 441. reported that food waste and hunger are problems faced by Brazil, therefore the study of pulp, peel and seed of fruits cultivated in this country can reveal important natural sources of nutrients for human health. They also reported that data food composition is important for the development of food composition tables and to estimate population nutritional and country economic indexes.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the nutritional composition of fruit pulp, raw peel, oven dried peel, freeze dried peel, and seed of avocado, pineapple, banana, papaya, passion fruit, watermelon and melon. The following parameters were evaluated: chemical composition (moisture, ash, crude protein, total lipids and crude fiber), mineral contents by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS), and fatty acids (FA) composition by gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID).

Experimental

Sampling

Different types of tropical fruit: avocado (P. americana), pineapple (A. comosus), banana (Musa sp.), papaya (C. papaya), passion fruit (P. edulis), watermelon (C. lanatus), and melon (C. melo) grown in Brazil, were obtained in three different periods during 2010. Ripe fruits were washed in tap water, dried with paper towel then, manually separated into peels, pulps, and seeds. Seeds were placed on a watch glass and dried for 120 h in the ambient conditions of pressure and temperature (25 °C). Peels were divided among three groups: raw, oven dried and freeze dried. Oven dried peels were dried in oven drier (Q314M-Quimis) with air circulation at 60 °C by 24 h for avocado and banana peels, and by 48 h for papaya, pineapple, passion fruit, melon and watermelon peels. Peels were freeze dried during 24 h in a bench lyophilizer (Christ model Alpha 1-2 LDplus). Each part of the different fruits: pulp, seed, raw peel, oven dried peel and lyophilized peel was, one by one, subsequently ground and stored in different polyethylene bags under a vacuum at -18 °C until analysis. All analyses were done in triplicate for each sampling period.

Chemicals and standards

The reagents were: methanol (MeOH), chloroform (CHCl3), isooctane (2,2,4-trimethylpentane), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), boric acid (H3BO3), hydrochloric acid (HCl), nitric acid (HNO3), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), copper sulfate (CuSO4), sodium sulfate (Na2SO4), sodium chloride (NaCl), selenium metal, ammonium molybdate ((NH4)6Mo7O24.4H2O), and ammonium vanadate (NH4VO3).

Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) standard (mixture 189-19, Sigma®) and tricosanoic FAME (23:0, Sigma®) were used. Ultrapure water was obtained from a Milli-Q ultrapure water purification system (Millipore, Bedford, MA, USA). Minerals (Mn, Zn, Fe, Cu, Mg, and Na; Qhemis®), Specsol®), and dibasic potassium phosphate (K2HPO4·3H2O, Merck®) were used. All other chemicals and solvents were of analytical reagent grade.

Proximate composition

Moisture, ash, and crude protein content were determined according to the literature.99 Association of Official Analytical Chemists International (AOAC); Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International, 16th ed.; Cunniff, P. A., ed.; Association of Official Analytical Chemists: Arlington, Washington, USA, CD-Rom, 1998. A factor of 6.25 was used to convert the total nitrogen in protein in all samples. Crude fiber was determined by the Instituto Adolfo Lutz method.1010 Instituto Adolfo Lutz; Métodos Químicos e Físicos para Análise de Alimentos, 5ª ed.; Instituto Adolfo Lutz: São Paulo, Brasil, 2008, p. 641. Total lipids (TL) were extracted by the method of Bligh and Dyer.1111 Bligh, E. G.; Dyer, W. J.; Can. J. Biochem. Physiol. 1959, 37, 911. All analyses were carried out in triplicate and values were expressed as percentages on a dried basis (%DB), except for moisture, which was expressed as a percentage on a wet basis (%WB).

Mineral contents

The digestion of the samples was carried out by drying in an oven at 600 °C for 4 hours, the ashes and the crucibles were previously decontaminated with a solution of 10% nitric acid at rest for a night and rinsed. Then, 10 mL of 5% nitric acid was added to the sample, and this mixture was heated until complete dissolution of the ash, which was then filtered. After the sample had reached room temperature, the solution was put into a 25 mL volumetric flask and the volume thereof was supplemented with deionized water.

The determination of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), sodium (Na), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) contents was performed according to Instituto Adolfo Lutz,1010 Instituto Adolfo Lutz; Métodos Químicos e Físicos para Análise de Alimentos, 5ª ed.; Instituto Adolfo Lutz: São Paulo, Brasil, 2008, p. 641. using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer flame (Varian®) model AA 240FS). Calibration curves for each element were plotted using standard mineral diluted with deionized water. All analyses were performed in triplicate; the results were expressed in milligrams per 100 g of sample on a dry basis (mg per 100 g DB).

Fatty acid composition

FAME were prepared by methylation of TL as described by Joseph and Ackman,1212 Joseph, J. D.; Ackman, R. G.; J. AOAC Int. 1992, 75, 488. and analyses were carried out in duplicate. Methyl esters were separated by gas chromatography in a Trace Ultra 3300 model (Thermo Scientific) equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID) and a cyanopropyl capillary column (100 m × 0.25 internal diameter, 0.25 µm film thickness, CP 7420 Varian, EUA). The injector and detector temperatures were 240 °C. The gas flow rates used were 1.2 mL min-1 for carrier gas (H2), 30 mL min-1 for make-up gas (N2), and 35 and 300 mL min-1 for flame gases (H2 and synthetic air, respectively). The sample splitting rate was 1:80 and the samples (2 µL) were injected in duplicate. The operational parameters were as follows: the column temperature was held at 185 °C for 7.5 min, programmed to increase at 4 °C min-1 to 235 °C, and maintained at this temperature for 1.5 min; the total run time was 25 min. The peak areas were determined by ChromQuest 5.0 software. For FA identification, retention times were compared with those of standard methyl esters.

Quantification (in milligrams of FA per gram of TL) was performed against tricosanoic acid methyl ester as an internal standard (23:0), as described by Joseph and Ackman.1212 Joseph, J. D.; Ackman, R. G.; J. AOAC Int. 1992, 75, 488. Theoretical FID correction factor values1313 Visentainer, J. V.; Quim. Nova 2012, 35, 274. were used to obtain concentration values. FA content was calculated in milligrams per gram of TL by using the equation 1:

(1) FA mg 1 of TL = A X W IS CF X A IS W X CF AE × 100

where FA is expressed as milligrams per gram of TL, AX is the peak area (FA), AIS is the peak area of the internal standard (IS) methyl ester of tricosanoic acid (23:0), WIS is the IS weight (mg) added to the sample (in mg), WX is the sample weight (in mg), CFX is the theoretical correction factor, and CFAE is the conversion factor necessary to express results as milligrams of FA rather than as methyl esters. The results were converted to milligrams of FA per 100 g of sample on a dried basis (mg per 100 g DB).

Statistical analysis

Results were reported as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The Tukey test, at p = 0.05, was used to assess significant differences between means of samples.

Results and Discussion

Chemical composition

Table 1 shows the chemical composition values obtained. The analyses showed significant differences among different fruit parts. Pulps and raw peels presented higher moisture content (varied from 65.8 ± 3.1 to 93.3 ± 0.2 g per 100 g in wet basis, WB) than seeds analyzed. The fruit pulps moisture values reported in Table 1 are according to Tabela Brasileira de Composição de Alimentos (TACO)1414 Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Alimentação (NEPA) Unicamp; Tabela Brasileira de Composição de Alimentos (TACO), 2a ed.; NEPA-Unicamp: Campinas, 2006, http://www.unicamp.br/nepa/taco/contar/taco_versao2.pdf, accessed in May 2016.
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values: 83.8, 86.3, 73.8, 82.9, 90.7 and 91.3% WB of avocado, pineapple, banana, passion fruit, watermelon and melon, respectively, and 88.6% BU of papaya. Mooz et al.1515 Mooz, E. D.; Gaino, N. M.; Shimano, M. Y. H.; Amancio, R. D.; Spoto, M. H. F.; Ciênc. Tecnol. Aliment. 2012, 32, 274. evaluated the moisture content of different variety avocado pulps and obtained the values: 79.37 to 83.47% WB. Lopes et al.1616 Lopes, R. M.; Sevilha, A. C.; Faleiro, F. G.; Silva, D. B.; Vieira, R. F.; Agostini-Costa, T. S.; Rev. Bras. Fruticultura 2010, 32, 498. also reported 7% WB of moisture to seed of passion fruit different varieties. Tripathi et al.1717 Tripathi, S.; Suzuki, J. Y.; Carr, J. B.; McQuate, G. T.; Ferreira, S. A.; Manshardt, R. M.; Pitz, K. Y.; Wall, M. M.; Gonsalves, D. J.; J. Food Compos. Anal. 2011, 24, 140. evaluated the moisture content in pulps of papaya different varieties and reported values (85.0 ± 0.1 and 87.7 ± 0.7% WB) similar to Table 1.

Table 1
Proximate composition in pulp, seed, raw peel, oven dried peel, freeze dried peel of avocado (Persea americana), pineapple (Ananas comosus), banana (Musa sp.), papaya (Carica papaya), passion fruit (Passiflora edulis), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and melon (Cucumis melo), expressed in percentage fruit part in dried basis (g per 100 g DB), except moisture which were expressed in percentage of wet basis (%WB)

According to Celestino,1818 Celestino, S. M. C.; Princípios de Secagem de Alimentos; Embrapa: Planaltina, Brasil, 2010. products with lower moisture content, generally, are less subject to degradation by microorganisms and chemical changes. The high moisture peel contents observed suggests that the peels require drying process for better conservation of the product. Both drying methodologies decreased the peel moisture (raw peels moisture range of 65.6 ± 1.4 to 92.5 ± 1.0% WB, oven dried peels moisture range of 4.3 ± 0.4 to 12.3 ± 2.9% WB, and freeze dried peels moisture range of 2.4 ± 0.2 to 18.8 ± 0.2% WB). Guimarães et al.1919 Guimarães, R. R.; Freitas, M. C. J.; Silva, V. L. M.; Ciênc. Tecnol. Aliment. 2010, 30, 354. evaluated the moisture content in watermelon dried peel and reported the value 9.1 ± 0.3% WB, similar to Table 1.

The sample ash values (Table 1) varied from 1.5 ± 0.1 to 14.3 ± 0.2% in dry basis (DB). Peels presented the largest ash values (range of 1.6 ± 0.3 to 12.8 ± 0.9 g per 100 g DB), without statistically significant differences among raw and dried peel values on a dry basis (DB). The fruit pulps ash values reported in Table 1, when converted to wet basis, are according to TACO1414 Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Alimentação (NEPA) Unicamp; Tabela Brasileira de Composição de Alimentos (TACO), 2a ed.; NEPA-Unicamp: Campinas, 2006, http://www.unicamp.br/nepa/taco/contar/taco_versao2.pdf, accessed in May 2016.
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values. Guimarães et al.1919 Guimarães, R. R.; Freitas, M. C. J.; Silva, V. L. M.; Ciênc. Tecnol. Aliment. 2010, 30, 354. evaluated ash in watermelon dried peel and obtained the value 12.7 ± 0.1%, and El-Adawy and Taha2020 El-Adawy, T. A.; Taha, K. M.; Food Chem. 2001, 74, 47. evaluated watermelon seed and reported 3.6% DB, these values are similar to Table 1. It is important to note that the ash composition is the amount of mineral elements in food.2121 Pereda, J. A. O.; Tecnologia de Alimentos, Componentes dos Alimentos e Processos, Vol. 1; Artmed: Porto Alegre, Brasil, 2005.

Crude protein values varied from 4.4 ± 1.0 to 23.3 ± 0.5% DB (Table 1). Seeds presented the highest crude protein content (varying from 9.7 ± 1.6 to 23.3 ± 0.5 g per 100 g DB), except for avocado. When values in Table 1 are converted to wet basis it is possible to compare and to affirm that the fruit pulps moisture values reported in this study (1.6 ± 0.3, 0.7 ± 0.3, 1.2 ± 0.2, 0.8 ± 0.1, 1.2 ± 0.3, 1.1 ± 0.2, 0.8 ± 0.1% WB of avocado, pineapple, banana, papaya, passion fruit, watermelon and melon, respectively) are in accordance with TACO values: 1.2, 0.9, 1.4, 0.5, 2.0, 0.9 and 0.7% WB of avocado, pineapple, banana, papaya, passion fruit, watermelon and melon, respectively. Mooz et al.1515 Mooz, E. D.; Gaino, N. M.; Shimano, M. Y. H.; Amancio, R. D.; Spoto, M. H. F.; Ciênc. Tecnol. Aliment. 2012, 32, 274. evaluated the crude protein in different varieties of avocado pulp and reported values in the range of 1.1 to 1.8% WB values, which are similar to obtained in this study. Tripathi et al.1717 Tripathi, S.; Suzuki, J. Y.; Carr, J. B.; McQuate, G. T.; Ferreira, S. A.; Manshardt, R. M.; Pitz, K. Y.; Wall, M. M.; Gonsalves, D. J.; J. Food Compos. Anal. 2011, 24, 140. reported values of 0.7 ± 0.0 and 0.8 ± 0.0% WB of crude protein in different cultivars and ripeness stage of papaya pulp, similar to Table 1. It is important to remark here that fruit values of crude protein are low because the fruit in general are not potential sources of proteins.2222 Almeida, V. V.; Canesin, E. A.; Suzuki, R. M.; Palioto, G. F.; Quim. Nova Esc. 2012, 35, 34.

Different parts of fruits presented total lipids (TL) values in the range of 1.1 ± 0.2 to 28.7 ± 7.9% DB. Seeds (range of 14.0 ± 2.0 to 27.5 ± 1.4 g per 100 g DB) presented the highest TL, except for avocado, because avocado seed presented low TL value, 3.9 ± 0.3% DB, and avocado pulp the highest TL value, 28.7 ± 7.9% DB. The TL are generally low in fruits, particularly in peel and pulp, however, it can be found in higher concentrations in seeds.2323 Roesler, R.; Catharino, R. R.; Malta, L. G.; Eberlin, M. N.; Pastore, G. M.; Food Chem. 2008, 110, 711. When the Table 1 values are converted to wet basis (3.8 ± 0.4, 0.1 ± 0.0, 0.2 ± 0.0, 25.9 ± 1.5 and 18.1 ± 3.2% WB, avocado pulp, pineapple pulp, papaya pulp, passion fruit seed, watermelon seed, respectively) it is possible to affirm that these values are similar to: reported by Mooz et al.1515 Mooz, E. D.; Gaino, N. M.; Shimano, M. Y. H.; Amancio, R. D.; Spoto, M. H. F.; Ciênc. Tecnol. Aliment. 2012, 32, 274. for avocado pulp TL of variety "Butter pear", 4.8% WB; reported by TACO1414 Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Alimentação (NEPA) Unicamp; Tabela Brasileira de Composição de Alimentos (TACO), 2a ed.; NEPA-Unicamp: Campinas, 2006, http://www.unicamp.br/nepa/taco/contar/taco_versao2.pdf, accessed in May 2016.
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for pineapple pulp, 0.1% WB, and papaya pulp, 0.1% WB; reported by Lopes et al.1616 Lopes, R. M.; Sevilha, A. C.; Faleiro, F. G.; Silva, D. B.; Vieira, R. F.; Agostini-Costa, T. S.; Rev. Bras. Fruticultura 2010, 32, 498. for passion fruit seed, 23% WB; and reported by Jarret and Levy2424 Jarret, R. L.; Levy, I. J.; J. Agric. Food Chem. 2012, 60, 5199. for watermelon seed in the range of 15.0 to 29.8% WB.

Samples crude fiber contents ranged values of 1.9 ± 0.3 to 56.7 ± 0.5% DB (Table 1). Pulp fruits presented the lowest values (range of 1.9 ± 0.3 to 12.2 ± 0.4% DB). Seeds (range of 41.6 ± 7.3 to 56.7 ± 0.5 g per 100 g DB) and raw peels (varied from 16.3 ± 2.5 to 39.2 ± 7.6 g per 100 g DB) presented the highest values of crude fiber, except for avocado. The values reported in Table 1 for TL values are similar to: TACO,1414 Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Alimentação (NEPA) Unicamp; Tabela Brasileira de Composição de Alimentos (TACO), 2a ed.; NEPA-Unicamp: Campinas, 2006, http://www.unicamp.br/nepa/taco/contar/taco_versao2.pdf, accessed in May 2016.
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38.9, 7.3 and 6.4% DB pulps of avocado, pineapple and passion fruit, respectively; and the reported by Emaga et al.2525 Emaga, T. H.; Robert, C.; Ronkart, S. N.; Wathelet, B.; Paquot, M.; Bioresour. Technol. 2008, 99, 4346. for banana peel, 50% DB.

It is important to highlight that neither freeze drying nor oven drying methodologies decreased the nutrient amount (ash, crude protein, total lipids, and crude fiber).

Mineral contents

The results of calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc are presented in Table 2. According to ash contents (Table 1), processing fruit peels ashes represented similar values. Thus, the mineral contents were analyzed only processed peel.

Table 2
Mineral contents in pulp, seed, and oven dried peel of avocado (Persea americana), pineapple (Ananas comosus), banana (Musa sp.), papaya (Carica papaya), passion fruit (Passiflora edulis), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and melon (Cucumis melo) in mg of mineral per 100 g of fruit part in dried basis (mg per 100 g DB)

Minerals are essential for the maintenance of human health. The average daily reference values of recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for adults established by USA National Institute of Health (NIH)2626 USA National Institute of Health, available at https://ods.od.nih.gov/Health_Information/Dietary_Reference_Intakes.aspx, accessed in June 2016.
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for men and women, from 19 to 70 years, are: 1,000-1,200, 310-420, 4,700, 1,200-1,500, 0.9, 8-14, 1.8-2.3 and 8-11 mg per day of Ca, Mg, K, Na, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn, respectively.

The calcium content was the highest in peels and seeds (332.1-9770.9 mg per 100 g) followed by pulps (25.4-202.7 mg per 100 g). Papaya seed and watermelon dried peel were considered excellent natural sources of Ca, 15 g of these samples content more than the RDA of Ca (1,200 mg per day).

Magnesium concentration was similar among parts of fruits for avocado (46.9-82.15 mg per 100 g), pineapple (107.6-145.6 mg per 100 g) and passion fruit (76.8-106.2 mg per 100 g). For others fruits studied, peels and seeds showed highest magnesium content than pulp. Concentrations higher than 50% of the RDA of Mg (420 mg per day) were found only in papaya seed and watermelon dried peel.

Potassium was the most abundant mineral studied in parts of fruits ranging from 362.6 to 4808.1 mg per 100 g. Papaya, passion fruit and watermelon dried peel samples presented K contents > 40% of the RDA of this element (4,700 mg per day). It can be observed that potassium and sodium content was the highest in peels and pulps. Sodium content was the lowest among macrominerals analyzed. The most samples content less than 10% of the RDA of Na (1,500 mg per day), except melon dried peel (20% of the RDA of Na) and passion fruit dried peel (22% of the RDA of Na).

Regarding the microminerals, the values ranged from 0.4 to 17.5 mg per 100 g for the fruit. The highest amount of copper, followed by iron, manganese and zinc. These minerals are important for health status and it can be observed that peels and seed showed major contents than pulps. All samples can be considered natural sources of Cu, however banana pulp and papaya pulp, which presented concentrations lower than 100% of the RDA of Cu 0.9 mg per day. Pulp and seeds of papaya, passion fruit, watermelon and melon concentrations of Fe are higher than 28% of the RDA of Fe (14 mg per day). Based on the RDA, ca. 30 g of banana peel presents more than 100% of the RDA of Mn 2.3 mg per day. Papaya seed, watermelon dried peel and melon seed samples present concentrations higher than 45% of the RDA of Zn 11 mg per day.

It notes that all mineral concentrations obtained (Table 2) to pulps were similar to those of TACO.1414 Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Alimentação (NEPA) Unicamp; Tabela Brasileira de Composição de Alimentos (TACO), 2a ed.; NEPA-Unicamp: Campinas, 2006, http://www.unicamp.br/nepa/taco/contar/taco_versao2.pdf, accessed in May 2016.
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The principal component analysis (PCA) was used to obtain additional information about the mineral contents of the different parts of tropical fruits. The combination of two components explained approximately 99.71% of the original data variability.

As shown in Figures 1A and 1B, the samples were grouped in two distinct groups. The first one was formed by peels of pineapple, papaya, melon, avocado, passion fruit and watermelon and seeds of papaya, passion fruit and watermelon, all strongly correlated with calcium. The second group was formed by pulps, banana peel and seeds of melon and avocado that showed a strong correlation with potassium. Other minerals analyzed were not correlated with the samples.

Figure 1
(A) Scores and (B) loadings plot mineral contents for the first and second PC of different parts of tropical fruits.

It should be noted in Figure 1 that contents of calcium and potassium were highest greater than others minerals analyzed. In general, it can be observed that pulps showed highest values of potassium and seeds and peels showed highest values of calcium. From the results obtained, it can be seen that peels and seeds of fruits showed significant amount of minerals evaluated, which suggests that analyzed peel and seeds of the fruits can be considered as a source alternative nutrients. Parts of tropical fruits are a source of minerals1616 Lopes, R. M.; Sevilha, A. C.; Faleiro, F. G.; Silva, D. B.; Vieira, R. F.; Agostini-Costa, T. S.; Rev. Bras. Fruticultura 2010, 32, 498. and these results can encourage their consumption.

Fatty acid composition

Table 3 shows that a total of 15 FA were evaluated in samples as saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The major FAs in samples were the SFA:palmitic acid (16:0) and stearic acid (18:0). Avocado and other fruit seeds presented the largest amounts of FA. The main MUFA in samples was oleic acid (18:1n-9); and, according to Mooz et al.,1515 Mooz, E. D.; Gaino, N. M.; Shimano, M. Y. H.; Amancio, R. D.; Spoto, M. H. F.; Ciênc. Tecnol. Aliment. 2012, 32, 274. oleic acid reduces the levels of total cholesterol, low density proteins (LDL), triglycerides, and high density proteins (HDL).

Table 3
Fatty acid composition in pulp, seed, raw peel, oven dried peel, freeze dried peel of avocado (Persea americana), pineapple (Ananas comosus), banana (Musa sp.), papaya (Carica papaya), passion fruit (Passiflora edulis), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and melon (Cucumis melo) in mg of fatty acid per 100 g of fruit part in dried basis (mg per 100 g DB)

According to Coimbra and Jorge,2727 Coimbra, M. C.; Jorge, N.; J. Sci. Food Agric. 2012, 92, 679. the presence of unsaturated fatty acids, mainly the essentials omega-3 and omega-6, are very important for human health. Linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n-6) was the main PUFA. Alpha-linolenic acid (LNA, 18:3n-3) was present in all samples (Table 3). The average daily reference values of recommended dietary allowances (RDA) and adequate intakes (AI) for adults established by NIH for men and women, from 19 to 70 years, are 11,000-17,000 mg per day for n-6 PUFA (linoleic acid) and 1,100-1,600 mg per day for n-3 PUFA (linolenic acid). All samples contained less than 20% of the RDA of n-3 PUFA (linolenic acid) 1,600 mg per day. Only three samples, passion fruit seed, watermelon seed and melon seed, presented concentrations higher than the RDA of n-6 PUFA (linoleic acid) (17,000 mg per day), the values were 93, 77 and 46%, respectively.

Another important PUFA, the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3), which is important in the formation, development, and function of brain and retina,1515 Mooz, E. D.; Gaino, N. M.; Shimano, M. Y. H.; Amancio, R. D.; Spoto, M. H. F.; Ciênc. Tecnol. Aliment. 2012, 32, 274.,2828 Kolanowski, W.; Int. J. Food Prop. 2010, 13, 498. was found in most samples.

Villa-Rodríguez et al.2929 Villa-Rodríguez, J. A.; Molina-Corral, F. J.; Ayala-Zavala, J. F.; Olivas, G. I.; González-Aguilar, G. A.; Food Res. Int. 2011, 44, 1231. reported lower values of 14:0, 16:0, 18:0, 16:1, 18:1, 18:2 and 18:3 FA compared to Table 3 values in avocado pulps of different varieties. Villaverde et al.3030 Villaverde, J. J.; Oliveira, L.; Vilela, C.; Domingues, R. M.; Freitas, N.; Cordeiro, N.; Freire, C. S. R.; Silvestre, A. J. D.; Ind. Crops Prod. 2013, 42, 507. reported similar values of 14:0, 16:0, 18:0, 20:0, 22:0, 24:0, 16:1, 18:1, 18:2 and 18:3 FA compared to values obtained in this work in banana freeze dryer peel. Malacrida et al.3131 Malacrida, C. R.; Kimura, M.; Jorge, N.; Ciênc. Tecnol. Aliment. 2011, 31, 2. evaluated lipid profile of papaya seeds and reported that 18:1n-9 (71.30%), 16:0 (16.16%), 18:2n-6 (6.06%) and 18:0 (4.73%) were the major FA similar to the results shown by Table 3. Malacrida and Jorge3232 Malacrida, C. R.; Jorge, N.; Braz. Arch. Biol. Technol. 2012, 55, 127. and Lopes et al.1616 Lopes, R. M.; Sevilha, A. C.; Faleiro, F. G.; Silva, D. B.; Vieira, R. F.; Agostini-Costa, T. S.; Rev. Bras. Fruticultura 2010, 32, 498. evaluated lipid profile of passion fruit seed and reported that linoleic and oleic FA were the major FA, similar to the results obtained in this work. Jarret and Levy2424 Jarret, R. L.; Levy, I. J.; J. Agric. Food Chem. 2012, 60, 5199. evaluated FA profile of different varieties of watermelon seed and reported that the major FA were: 16:0 (range of 10.6 to 11.15%), 18:0 (range of 8.05 to 10.1%), 18:1 (range of 12.88 to 16.42%) and 18:2 (range of 63.37 to 65.17%), similar to results shown by Table 3.

Table 4 shows the sum of n-6, n-3, saturated fatty acid (SFA), MUFA, and PUFA in addition to the omega-6: omega-3 (n-6:n-3) and PUFA:SFA ratios. In relation to the sum of n-3 FA, passion fruit parts presented the highest values. The n-6:n-3 ratio was higher than 16:1 (Table 4) in the seeds of papaya, passion fruit, watermelon, and melon. According to Martin et al.,3333 Martin, C. A.; Almeida, V. V.; Ruiz, M. R.; Visentainer, J. E. L.; Matshushita, M.; Souza, N. E.; Visentainer, J. V.; Rev. Nutr. 2006, 19, 761. an n-6:n-3 ratio value higher than 10:1 is not good, since healthy diets present values between 1:1 and 10:1.

Table 4
Sum and ratio of fatty acid composition in pulp, seed, raw peel, oven dried peel, freeze dried peel of avocado (Persea americana), pineapple (Ananas comosus), banana (Musa sp.), papaya (Carica papaya), passion fruit (Passiflora edulis), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and melon (Cucumis melo) in mg of fatty acid per 100 g of fruit part in dried basis (mg per 100 g DB)

Avocado pulp and papaya, passion fruit, watermelon, and melon seeds presented higher sums of SFA, MUFA, and PUFA than other parts of these fruits (Table 4). The PUFA:SFA ratio in samples varied from 0.3 ± 0.0 to 3.9 ± 0.2. Martin et al.3333 Martin, C. A.; Almeida, V. V.; Ruiz, M. R.; Visentainer, J. E. L.; Matshushita, M.; Souza, N. E.; Visentainer, J. V.; Rev. Nutr. 2006, 19, 761. recommended that PUFA:SFA values should be higher than 0.45. Only papaya seed presented an unhealthy food value: 0.3 ± 0.0.

In general, the freeze drying and oven drying processes did not differ in relation to FA composition and did not affect the amounts of individual SFA and MUFA or the sums of n-6, SFA, MUFA, and PUFA in most fruits. The drying processes decreased the values of the PUFAs 18:3n-3, 20:2n-6, and 22:6n-3 individually and reduced the value of the sum of n-3 FA for some fruit. After processing the peels, the values of PUFA:SFA increased for most fruits.

Additionally, fruits peels and seeds evaluated are excellent sources of bioactive compounds, therefore it is recommended more studies to evaluate these samples antinutritional and toxic factors, which are considered nutritionally undesirable, before add this as food ingredient (Ayala-Zavala et al.).3434 Ayala-Zavala, J. F.; Vega-Vega, V.; Rosas-Dominguez, C.; Palafox-Carlos, H.; Villa-Rodriguez, J. A.; Siddiqui, M. W.; Dávila-Aviña, J. E.; González-Aguilar, G. A.; Food Res. Int. 2011, 44, 1886. It is also important to emphasize the need of future studies on the minerals bioaccessibility.

Conclusions

The proximate composition, mineral contents and fatty acids composition of the evaluated fruit parts (peel, pulp and seeds) are different. Peel and seeds of fruits have higher amounts of evaluated nutrients than their pulps. The findings of this study highlight the potential of all parts of papaya, watermelon and passion fruit, and, melon pulp, melon seed and banana peel as a valuable source of nutrients such as essential minerals and fatty acids. Both drying technologies are adequate for reducing the perishability of peels and industry losses, because they do not decrease peel nutrients. This study data also contribute to the knowledge of Brazilian cultivated fruit composition.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank CNPq for the financial support.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Feb 2017

History

  • Received
    22 Feb 2016
  • Accepted
    10 June 2016
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