Exploring in Vitro Antioxidant Activity and Physicochemical Properties of Selected Under-Exploited Tropical Fruits

Abstract

Abstract Dacryodes edulis (DE), Dalium guineensis (DG), Spondias mombin (SM) and Irvingia gabonensis (IG) as notable underexploited tropical wild fruits in Nigeria, were evaluated for quality characteristics, phenolic contents and in-vitro antioxidant activity. pH of the fruits ranked thus DE > IG > DG > SM and the reverse order was true for acidity. IG exhibited highest obrix, vitamin C and total sugar content. DE had no detectable reducing sugar compared to 18.84% in IG. Total phenol and flavonoid contents followed the same pattern with DG as the highest (1796.89 ± 71.1 and 860.64 ± 3.7 mg/100g) and IG as the lowest (454.23 ± 13.9 and 304.98 ± 7.5 mg/100g), respectively. Regarding antioxidant activities, SM was significant for ABTS•, DE and IG were similar in FRAP assay, while all the fruits were effective DPPH• radical scavengers. Generally, the fruits demonstrate high food application potentials with possible health benefits if consumed adequately.