Determinación de compuestos fenólicos y actividad antioxidante de la pulpa, semillas y cáscara de Salacca zalacca en tres estados de madurez

Abstract

The present study determined the concentration of total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in the pulp, seed and peel of Salacca zalacca (Gaertn.) Voss at three stages and in different fruit fractions. The samples under study included an initial stage of development (E1) which corresponded to 30 days after flowering, intermediate stage of development (E2) 90 days after flowering and commercial maturity (E3) 120 days after flowering. Fresh samples were evaluated for weight, size (longitudinal diameter and equatorial diameter), pH, soluble solids, total titratable acidity, moisture and ash. In addition, total phenolic compounds were quantified by spectrophotometry using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and antioxidant activity using the ABTS method and DPPH method with microplate reading. The results showed significant differences between the different fractions (pulp, peel and seeds), as well as with the maturity stages. Thus, seeds showed the highest pH values (6.4 in E2 and E3); pulp in soluble solids (20.3 °Brix in E3), titratable acidity (0.9% in E2), moisture (80.9% in E1), total phenols (6295.9 mg/100 g PS in E1) and antioxidant activity by ABTS (99.9% inhibition in E2), while peel in ash content (3.1% in E3) and antioxidant activity by DPPH (97.5% inhibition in E2). These results emphasise the importance of the maturity stageand the fraction under study when evaluating the commercial quality and functional characteristics of this fruit