Phytochemical Profiling and Biochemical Evaluation of Pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Merr) Fruit

Abstract

This study aims to reveal the biochemical characteristics of pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Merr) fruit in terms of its fatty acid profile, vitamin and phytosterol content, as well as phenolic compounds and flavonoid composition. According to the analyses conducted, the predominant saturated fatty acids in pineapple were identified as palmitic acid (C16:0) and stearic acid (C18:0), with proportions of 16.232% and 5.524%, respectively. The total saturated fatty acid content was calculated as 22.829%. Among the unsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid (C18:2n6c), oleic acid (C18:1n9c), and linolenic acid (C18:3n3) were found at levels of 21.707%, 19.924%, and 18.158%, respectively. The total unsaturated fatty acid content was determined to be 62.158%. In addition, high levels of significant bioactive compounds such as α-tocopherol (6.13 µg/g), β-sitosterol (154.31 µg/g), and vitamin D3 (3.1 µg/g) were detected in the fruit. Among the phenolic acids, notable amounts of gallic, ferulic, and rosmarinic acids were identified, while catechin, naringenin, and quercetin were among the prominent flavonoids. In antioxidant activity assays, pineapple extract exhibited radical scavenging activities of 66.45% for DPPH•, 62.07% for ABTS•, and 70.21% for OH•. Although these values were lower than those of the standard antioxidant BHT, they still indicate a significant level of natural antioxidant capacity. The findings demonstrate that pineapple is a rich source of fatty acids, tocopherols, phytosterols, and phenolic and flavonoid compounds, supporting its potential to be considered a functional food and a natural antioxidant source.

Keywords

• Ananas comosus L.
• Pineapple
• Phytochemicals
• Fatty acids
• Vitamins
• Antioxidant capacity

Ananas (Ananas comosus L. Merr) Meyvesinin Fitokimyasal Profili ve Biyokimyasal Değerlendirmesi

Abstract

Bu çalışmada ananas (Ananas comosus L. Merr) meyvesinin yağ asidi profili, vitamin ve fitosterol içeriği ile fenolik bileşikler ve flavonoid kompozisyonu açısından biyokimyasal özelliklerinin ortaya konulması amaçlanmıştır. Yapılan analizlere göre ananasta baskın doymuş yağ asitleri sırasıyla %16,232 ve %5,524 oranlarında palmitik asit (C16:0) ve stearik asit (C18:0) olarak belirlenmiştir. Toplam doymuş yağ asidi içeriği %22,829 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Doymamış yağ asitlerinden linoleik asit (C18:2n6c), oleik asit (C18:1n9c) ve linolenik asit (C18:3n3) sırasıyla %21,707, %19,924 ve %18,158 düzeylerinde bulunmuştur. Toplam doymamış yağ asidi içeriği %62,158 olarak belirlendi. Ayrıca meyvelerde α-tokoferol (6,13 µg/g), β-sitosterol (154,31 µg/g) ve D3 vitamini (3,1 µg/g) gibi önemli biyoaktif bileşiklerin yüksek seviyeleri tespit edildi. Fenolik asitler arasında önemli miktarlarda gallik, ferulik ve rosmarinik asitler tanımlanırken, kateşin, naringenin ve kuersetin öne çıkan flavonoidler arasındaydı. Antioksidan aktivite testlerinde ananas özütü DPPH• için %66,45, ABTS• için %62,07 ve OH• için %70,21 radikal süpürücü aktivite gösterdi. Bu değerler standart antioksidan BHT'nin değerlerinden düşük olmasına rağmen, yine de önemli düzeyde doğal antioksidan kapasitesine işaret etmektedir. Bulgular, ananasın yağ asitleri, tokoferoller, fitosteroller, fenolik ve flavonoid bileşikler açısından zengin bir kaynak olduğunu ve fonksiyonel bir gıda ve doğal bir antioksidan kaynağı olarak kabul edilme potansiyelini desteklediğini göstermektedir.

Keywords

• Ananas
• Fitokimyasallar
• yağ asitleri
• vitaminler
• Antioksidan kapasite

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