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Chemical characterization, polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity of two pitahaya ecotypes (Hylocereus spp.)
Caracterización química, contenido de polifenoles y capacidad antioxidante de dos ecotipos de pitahaya (Hylocereus spp.)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15446/rfnam.v74n3.92821Keywords:
DPPH, ABTS, Antioxidant capacity, Bioactive compounds, Functional foods, Polyphenols (en)DPPH, ABTS, Capacidad antioxidante, Compuestos bioactivos, Alimentos funcionales, Polifenoles (es)
Pitahaya has originated worldwide interest due to its content of bioactive compounds with proven beneficial effects on health, acting as antioxidants against free radicals. This study aimed to evaluate the nutraceutical potential of the peel and pulp of the red (Hylocereus monacanthus) and yellow (Hylocereus megalanthus) pitahaya ecotypes for nutritional formulation purposes. Two pitahaya ecotypes were analyzed, obtaining a methanolic extract of the peel and edible part to perform the proximal chemical analysis, the phytochemical screening, and determine antioxidant activity by the DPPH, ABTS, and IC50 methods. Flavonoids, tannins, quinones, among other bioactive compounds were identified. Yellow pitahaya presented higher content of polyphenols and higher antioxidant activity by the ABTS method, while the average inhibition percentage for both ecotypes was 93% by DPPH method. IC50 was higher for the edible part of red pitahaya with 1.68 mg mL-1. Both ecotypes have a high content of polyphenols and a high antioxidant capacity, which agree with those found in different studies such as those of Colombia, Brazil and Korea, being as high or even higher than most varieties of citrus fruits in Peru. Future studies should consider the inclusion of other metabolites and bioactive substances such as betalains due to their antioxidant activity. Both pitahaya ecotypes are rich in antioxidants, bioactive compounds, have low energy density, and may be suitable for food prescriptions as a functional ingredient in food industry.
La pitahaya ha suscitado el interés mundial debido a su contenido de compuestos bioactivos con comprobados efectos benéficos para la salud, actuando como antioxidantes frente a los radicales libres. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el potencial nutracéutico de la cáscara y pulpa de los ecotipos pitahaya roja (Hylocereus monacanthus) y amarilla (Hylocereus megalanthus), con fines de formulación nutricional. Se analizaron dichos ecotipos de pitahaya, obteniéndose un extracto metanólico de la cáscara y parte comestible de ambos ecotipos a fin de realizar el análisis químico proximal, la marcha fitoquímica, y determinar actividad antioxidante por los métodos DPPH, ABTS e IC50. Se identificaron flavonoides, taninos, quinonas, entre otros compuestos bioactivos. La pitahaya amarilla presentó mayor contenido de polifenoles y mayor actividad antioxidante por el método ABTS, mientras que el porcentaje de inhibición promedio para ambos ecotipos fue del 93% por el método DPPH. El IC50 fue mayor para la pulpa de pitahaya roja con 1,68 mg mL-1. Ambos ecotipos presentan un alto contenido de polifenoles y una alta capacidad antioxidante, los cuales concuerdan con los encontrados en distintos estudios como los de Colombia, Brazil y Corea, siendo tan alta o incluso superior a la de la mayoría de las variedades de cítricos en Perú. Futuros estudios deberían considerar incluir a otros metabolitos y sustancias bioactivas como las betalainas debido a su actividad antioxidante. Ambos ecotipos de pitahaya son ricos en antioxidantes, compuestos bioactivos, y de bajo aporte calórico, recomendándose su uso en prescripciones alimentarias y en la industria de alimentos como ingrediente funcional.
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