Nutritional Evaluation, Chemical Investigation of Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Ferocactus Glaucescens Ripe Fruits

El-Hawary, Seham S.; Ibrahim, Rana M.; Hamed, Ahmed R.; El-Halawany, Ali M.

doi:10.21608/ejchem.2019.20296.2216

Nutritional Evaluation, Chemical Investigation of Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Ferocactus Glaucescens Ripe Fruits

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr-El-Ainy Street, 11562, Cairo, Egypt

² Chemistry of Medicinal Plants Department, National Research Centre, El Bohouth st., Dokki, 12622, Giza, Egypt

³ Biology Unit, Central Lab for the Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Division, National Research Centre, El Bohouth st., Dokki, 12622, Giza, Egypt

10.21608/ejchem.2019.20296.2216

Abstract

The present investigation aimed to assess the nutritional properties of the ripe fruits of Ferocactus glaucescens (DC.) for the first time. Total polyphenols and flavonoids in the methanolic extract of the fruits were determined colorimetrically and the quantification of their components was carried out using HPLC-UV. Antioxidant activity of the extract was also evaluated using DPPH+ method. Total phenolics and flavonoids estimated as gallic acid and quercetin equivalents (mg/g of the dried extract) were 8.39 ± 0.074 and 3.82 ± 0.019, respectively. HPLC analysis of the phenolic compounds enabled the identification and quantification of 31 phenolic compounds (12 flavonoids and 19 phenolic acids). Naringenin was the major identified flavonoid (23.4 ± 1.2 mg/100g). While, trans-cinnamic acid was the major identified phenolic acid (22.37 ± 0.9 mg/100g). Also, DPPH assay revealed marked antioxidant activity of the methanolic extract. In nutritional analysis, carbohydrates (18.8 g/100g), protein (1.2 g/100g), total lipid (1.3%) and crude fiber (10.1%) content were detected. Vitamin C (503.12 mg/100g) was higher when compared to other two vitamins evaluated. Eight minerals were also quantified. These results suggest that F. glaucescens fruit is a rich source of nutrients and antioxidant compounds such as phenolic compounds and highly recommended for consumption.

Keywords