Evaluation of bioactive compounds with functional interest from yellow pitahaya (Selenicereus megalanthus Haw)

Abstract

Yellow Pitahaya (YP) is an exotic fruit, cataloged by Colombia International Corporation as a promising fruit to export, due to its sensorial and organoleptic attributes. In addition, this fruit has been associated with the control of constipation, and benefits for health because of its content of antioxidants. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to determine its chemical and biocompounds present in stem, peel, seed, and pulp of yellow pitahaya. The polyphenols were determined with the Folin-Ciocalteu method; the vitamin C content was determined using 2-nitroaniline; the antioxidant capacity was found with the ABTS and DPPH methods; and the peristalsis acceleration by measuring feces in biomodels (golden hamster) fed with various parts of this fruit. The results proved that the fruit composition varies according to its part. It is noteworthy that all parts of the fruit contain bioactive compounds in various proportions; the highest concentration of vitamin C, polyphenols and antioxidant capacity (AC) were found in the seed (22.08 mg ascorbic acid per g dry matter, 1580 mg gallic acid per 100 g dry matter, 79.2±0.2% ABTS, respectively) and peel (20.615 mg ascorbic acid per g dry matter, 1333.33 mg gallic acid per 100 g dry matter, 66.2±0.8% ABTS, respectively); regarding the peristalsis acceleration, the fecal production increased with the consumption of the seeds. Consequently, result showed that yellow pitahaya could be an alternative of a promising product due to its composition, and content of bioactive components of functional interest.

Keywords

• Antioxidants
• bioproducts
• constipation
• peristalsis
• polyphenols