<i>Prunus lusitanica</i> L. Fruits: A Promising Underexploited Source of Nutrients with Potential Economic Value
Ana Abraão,
Manyou Yu,
Irene Gouvinhas,
Luís Ferreira,
Amélia M. Silva,
Raúl Domínguez-Perles,
Ana Barros
Affiliations
Ana Abraão
Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, (CITAB)/Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production (Inov4Agro), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Manyou Yu
Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, (CITAB)/Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production (Inov4Agro), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Irene Gouvinhas
Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, (CITAB)/Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production (Inov4Agro), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Luís Ferreira
Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, (CITAB)/Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production (Inov4Agro), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Amélia M. Silva
Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, (CITAB)/Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production (Inov4Agro), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Raúl Domínguez-Perles
Phytochemistry and Healthy Food Lab (LabFAS), Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS), CSIC, University Campus of Espinardo, 25, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Ana Barros
Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, (CITAB)/Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production (Inov4Agro), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
In recent times, less-known fruit species have increasingly attracted worldwide attention and their health benefits are at the forefront. The fruits of plants from the genus Prunus are good sources of nutrients due to their economic, agronomic, and healthy values. However, Prunus lusitanica L., commonly known as Portuguese laurel cherry is considered an endangered species. Thus, the present work aimed to monitor the nutritional components of P. lusitanica fruits grown in three locations in northern Portugal for four consecutive years (2016–2019), using AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists), spectrophotometric, and chromatographic analysis. The results evidenced the abundance of phytonutrients in P. lusitanica, such as proteins, fat, carbohydrates, soluble sugars, dietary fibre, amino acids, and minerals. It was also highlighted that the variation of nutritional components was relatively linked to the year factor, being especially relevant in the frame of the current changing climate, among others. These findings suggest that P. lusitanica L. deserves to be conserved and planted because of its food and nutraceutical applications. However, more detailed information on this rare plant species, such as phytophysiology, phytochemistry, bioactivity, pharmacology, etc., is certainly required for the design and development of appropriate uses and valorization alternatives for this species.