NUTRIENT CONTENT AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF SOME POPULAR FRUITS IN BANGLADESH

The present study discussed the nutritional content and quantification of eleven bioactive phenolic antioxidant contents in the water, methanol and acetone extracts of four different edible fruits viz. Musa acuminate (banana), Ananascomosus (pineapple), Psidiumguajava (guava) and Malusdomestica (apple) using HPLC-DAD. Nutritional analysis showed that the most moisture and fiber-containing fruit was guava where as banana had the lowest amount. On the other hand banana had the highest percentage of protein and carbohydrate whereas guava had the lowest percentage. The result showed that the antioxidant content determined by HPLC was varied in the water, methanol and acetone extracts of these fruits. According to the study, acetone was appeared as the most suitable extraction system of phenolic antioxidants present in these fruits, i.e. in the apple,(+) catechin hydrate was 486.80 +/- 16.75, 28.64 +/- 2.21and 0.0 +/- 0.0 mg/100g of the extract; ellagic acid was 1735.14 +/- 33.17, 33.44 +/- 4.07 and 0.0 +/- 0.0 mg/100g of the extract and (-) epicatechin was 138.02 +/- 7.69, 6.78 +/- 1.06 and 0.0 +/- 0.0 mg/100g of acetone, methanol and water extract respectively. Phenolic antioxidant contents were found highest in the extract of apple where as least amount present in any extract of banana although Nutrient content analysis showed it as a good source of energy. Therefore, the results suggest that these edible fruits might be a good source of natural antioxidant.