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Publication
Evaluation of the Health-Promoting Properties of Selected Fruits
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
In this study, the health-promoting benefits of different fruits grown in Madeira Island,
namely lemon (Citrus limon var. eureka), tangerine (Citrus reticulata var. setubalense), pitanga (Eugenia
uniflora var. red), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. gordal) and uva-da-serra, an endemic blueberry
(Vaccinium padifolium Sm.), were investigated. The phenolic composition (total phenolics and total
flavonoids content) and antioxidant capacity (assessed through ABTS and DPPH assays) were
measured revealing a high phenolic potential for all fruits, except tomato, while uva-da-serra is
particularly rich in flavonoids. In relation to the antioxidant capacity, the highest values were
obtained for pitanga and uva-da-serra extracts. The bioactive potential was also assessed through
the ability of the extracts to inhibit digestive enzymes linked to diabetes (α-amylase, α- and β glucosidases) and hypertension (angiotensin-converting enzyme, ACE). The results obtained point
to a very high bioactive potential with the selected samples exhibiting very important ACE anti enzymatic capacities. A statistical analysis of the obtained data reveals a very strong correlation
between ABTS and TPC, and a strong contribution of the fruit polyphenols for enzyme inhibition,
and thus, presenting high antihypertensive and antidiabetic capacities. Overall, the results obtained
clearly show a high bioactive potential of the selected fruits that should be further studied, in terms
of specific phenolic composition. Moreover, these results strongly support the valorisation of pitanga
seeds usually discarded as a waste, and uva-da-serra, an endemic and wild bush, as potential
bioresources of bioactive compounds with impact in human diet.
Description
Keywords
Fruits Nutraceutical Antioxidant Antidiabetic Antihypertensive . Faculdade de Ciências Exatas e da Engenharia Centro de Química da Madeira
Citation
Porto-Figueira, P.; Berenguer, C.; Pereira, J.A.M.; Câmara, J.S. Evaluation of the Health-Promoting Properties of Selected Fruits. Molecules 2021, 26, 4202. https:// doi.org/10.3390/molecules26144202
Publisher
MDPI