A comparison of the oxidative stress/antioxidant status of pineapple, passion fruit, kiwi, avocado, and dragon fruits

Abstract

For centuries, people have sought natural remedies for healing and well-being. Natural antioxidants found in medicinal aromatic plants provide a more cost-effective and healthier alternative to synthetic antioxidants. The present study aimed to determine the fruit with the highest antioxidant activity among those grown in our country’s climate zone, especially due to the bioactive components of tropical and subtropical fruits. For each type of fruit, we purchased five fresh specimens from the Kahramanmaras and Mersin provinces: pineapple (Ananas comosus), passion fruit (Passiflora ligularis), kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa), dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus), and avocado (Persea americana). The fruits were homogenized in a 1.15% KCl solution, and their levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were determined using spectrophotometrically. The Lowry method was conducted to measure the protein content of the fruits and was expressed as U/mg protein. H. undatus exhibited the highest antioxidant enzyme capacity, followed by P. ligularis, A. deliciosa, P. americana, and A. comosus (p<0.05). The highest levels of MDA were observed among A. comosus, followed by P. americana, A. deliciosa, P. ligularis, and H. undatus (p<0.05). There is a growing scientific consensus that antioxidants, especially polyphenolic forms, can help reduce the incidence of certain diseases like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and DNA damage diseases, and may even have anti-aging properties. This study has shown that dragon fruit exhibits a significantly higher level of antioxidant content compared to the rest of the tropical fruits included in the study. Studies on these fruits, which are still very limited in number, can guide our future diet.

Keywords

• Antioxidant
• oxidative stress
• polyphenol
• secondary metabolites
• tropical fruits

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