Nutritional and Physico-Chemical Characterization of Underutilized Fruits from Prayagraj District, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Underutilised fruits represent an insufficiently documented source of nutritional and functional value, particularly in the Gangetic plains of Uttar Pradesh. This study evaluated the nutritional composition, physicochemical properties, bioactive compounds, and antimicrobial activity of six indigenous fruit species collected from Prayagraj district: Amla (Emblica officinalis), Bael (Aegle marmelos), Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana), Imli (Tamarindus indica), Jamun (Syzygium cumini), and Karonda (Carissa carandas). Standard AOAC methods were used for proximate analysis, physicochemical characterisation, and bioactive-compound estimation. Significant interspecific variation (p ≤ 0.05) was observed across the measured parameters. Amla had the highest moisture content (88.17%), whereas Karonda had the highest fat (3.73%) and carbohydrate (45.49%) contents. Imli had high fibre content (9.90%) and titratable acidity (7.96%). Bael had high total soluble solids (36.0 °Brix), total sugars (17.17%), and total phenolic content (182.06 mg GAE/g). Jamun had the highest anthocyanin content (106.68 mg/g). DPPH radical-scavenging activity was highest in Bael (86.75%), followed by Amla (78.16%). In the antimicrobial assays, Bael produced the largest inhibition zones against Escherichia coli (20.0 mm) and Salmonella typhi (25.33 mm). Antinutritional factors were generally low; Karonda had the lowest tannin content (0.77 mg/100 g), whereas Ber had the highest phytate content (69.20 mg/100 g). These findings indicate compositional differences among the selected fruits and provide baseline information for their conservation, cultivation, and potential use in diversified food products.