Phytonutrient Composition of Two Phenotypes of <i>Physalis alkekengi</i> L. Fruit
Venelina Popova,
Nadezhda Mazova,
Tanya Ivanova,
Nadezhda Petkova,
Magdalena Stoyanova,
Albena Stoyanova,
Sezai Ercisli,
Amine Assouguem,
Mohammed Kara,
Samar Zuhair Alshawwa,
Omkulthom Al Kamaly
Affiliations
Venelina Popova
Department of Tobacco, Sugar, Vegetable and Essential Oils, University of Food Technologies, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Nadezhda Mazova
Department of Engineering Ecology, University of Food Technologies, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Tanya Ivanova
Department of Tobacco, Sugar, Vegetable and Essential Oils, University of Food Technologies, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Nadezhda Petkova
Department of Organic Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry, University of Food Technologies, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Magdalena Stoyanova
Department of Analytical Chemistry and Physical Chemistry, University of Food Technologies, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Albena Stoyanova
Department of Tobacco, Sugar, Vegetable and Essential Oils, University of Food Technologies, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Sezai Ercisli
Department of Horticulture, Atatürk University, Erzurum 25240, Turkey
Amine Assouguem
Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez 30000, Morocco
Mohammed Kara
Laboratory of Biotechnology, Conservation and Valorisation of Natural Resources (LBCVNR), Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mehraz, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah, BP 1796 Atlas, Fez 30000, Morocco
Samar Zuhair Alshawwa
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
Omkulthom Al Kamaly
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
Physalis alkekengi L. is the only representative of the genus Physalis (Solanaceae) that is native to Bulgaria, found in wild habitats under different climatic and soil conditions. The plant is poisonous, but produces edible fruit, which are a source of functional nutrients—vitamins, phenolic antioxidants, minerals, etc. Therefore, the objective of this work was to determine the presence of certain nutrient and bioactive substances in two phenotypes of P. alkekengi fruit from Bulgaria, in order to better reveal the prospects of fruit use in nutrition. Different macro and micronutrients were determined in the fruit—protein, ash, lipids, fiber, natural pigments, sugars, amino acids, minerals—and the results showed differences between the phenotypes. Fruit energy values were low and identical in the samples, 43 kcal/100 g. The fruits were rich in extractable phenolics (TPC, 17.74–20.25 mg GAE/100 g FW; flavonoids, 15.84–18.03 mg QE/100 g FW) and demonstrated good antioxidant activity (DPPH, 171.55–221.26 mM TE/g; FRAP, 193.18–256.35 mM TE/g). P. alkekengi fruits were processed to obtain a dry extract with ethanol (yield 47.92–58.6%), and its individual composition was identified (GC-MS). The results in this study supported the presumed phytonutritive potential of P. alkekengi fruit, thus, opening doors for further research.
