Study of the carotenoid composition in Membrillo, Guanabana toreta, Jobo and Mamey fruits

Introduction. Many tropical fruits have great health potential due to the possible presence of bioactive phytochemicals. Natural food composition databases are very important sources of information relative to natural food biodiversity and nutritional properties. The objective of this study was to report for the first time on the native carotenoid composition of the fruit of four tropical species from Panama. Materials and methods. Fully mature fruit were collected in Panama and analyzed by HPLC-DAD-APCI-MS, after carotenoid extraction with acetone. Results and discussion. The carotenoid composition had never been previously reported for two of the investigated fruits, membrillo (Gustavia superba) and guanabana toreta (Annona purpurea). In membrillo, 5 different carotenoids were detected; the content of total carotenoids was 318.6 μg g−1 fresh weight (fw), with β-carotene showing a relative abundance of 75.3%. In guanabana toreta, 11 different carotenoids were detected; the total carotenoid content was 48.3 μg g−1 fw, with β-carotene and zeaxanthin showing a relative abundance of 26.9% and 27.5%, respectively. In jobo (Spondias mombin), 11 different carotenoids were detected; the total carotenoid content was 45.8 μg g−1 fw, with β-cryptoxanthin, α-carotene and β-carotene showing a relative abundance of 25.4%, 10.5% and 8.5%, respectively. In mamey (Mammea americana), 16 different carotenoids were detected; the total carotenoid content was 145.2 μg g−1 fw; in particular, 10 different violaxanthin fatty acid diesters, of both cis and trans isomers, were determined. Conclusion. The consumption of the fruit studied should be promoted both locally and abroad, because of the reported presence of these health-promoting phytochemicals.