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- Title
Nutraceutical value and quality attributes of icebox watermelon fruit as influenced by ripening.
- Authors
Soumya, V. Menon; Ramana Rao, T. V.
- Abstract
Watermelon is a quintessential summer fruit prolific in sugars and antioxidants, mainly lycopene which boosts the health esteem incredibly by promotion of heart health and cancer prevention. The results indicated that ripe fruit of 'Simran' cultivar was a good source of total sugars (65.89 mg/g FW), antioxidants like ascorbic acid (11.38 mg/g FW), carotenoids (26.15 µg/g FW) and also a rich source of minerals such as sodium (16.23 mg/kg) and zinc (7.43 mg/kg). Besides that sugar accumulation was concomitant with the increased activities of sugar metabolizing enzymes like sucrose phosphate synthase and sucrose synthase. During ripening, a remarkable increase in the activities of ß-galactosidase and cellulase were marked, whereas the polygalacturonase activity was found to be low and it remained fairly constant in later stages of ripening. Furthermore, the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase also reached their peak level in the ripe fruit of 'Simran'. This study revealed the nutraceutical value of the icebox watermelon 'Simran' based on the significant accumulation of antioxidants, phenolics, minerals and higher antioxidant capacity. Moreover, it gives an insight into the further characterization of antioxidants to increase the productivity of melons with improved quality traits which are highly appreciated by consumers and producers and also to exploit them as nutritional supplements.
- Subjects
FUNCTIONAL foods; WATERMELONS; ANTIOXIDANTS; FRUIT juices; VITAMIN C
- Publication
International Food Research Journal, 2018, Vol 25, Issue 4, p1582
- ISSN
1985-4668
- Publication type
Article