Nutritional and antioxidant quality of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Abstract

The genus Artocarpus comprises about 50 – 60 species, distributed throughout the Indomalay region and southeast China. The species Artocarpus heterophyllus, known as Jackfruit, is widely consumed in Asia. Currently, it is cultivated in the Mexican Republic in Nayarit and Michoacan states. Yet it is little consumed in Mexico, perhaps due to the lack of knowledge of its nutritional and nutraceutical properties, as well as its medicinal ones. The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional and antioxidant compounds of Jackfruit pulp (total phenol, flavonoid, vitamin C, carotenoids). The chemical analyzes showed the carbohydrates, fiber, lipids and proteins contained in the fruit pulp, as well as the minerals (Ca, K, Mg and Fe) and antioxidant compounds. The antioxidant capacity of the fruit correlated with content of Vitamin C (6.8 mg×100g-1 f.w.)  and β-carotene (244.84 UI). Flavonoid content was 9.86 mg quercetin equivalents×100g-1 f.w. The content of total phenolic compounds (58.44 mg gallic acid equivalents×100 g-1 f.w.) was similar to that reported by other authors. The jackfruit can be considered as a product with nutritional quality due to its carbohydrate and mineral content, as well as its nutraceutical quality resulting from its levels of antioxidant compounds.