Nutritional and nutraceutical compounds of fruits from native trees (Ziziphus mistol and Geoffroea decorticans) of the dry chaco forest

Abstract

Mistol (Ziziphus mistol) and chañar (Geoffroea decorticans) fruits are traditionally used for both edible and medicinal purposes. The objective of the current study was to assess lipid, protein and phenolic composition from mistol and chañar fruits to provide better insights into their nutritional and nutraceutical properties. The total lipid content of whole fruits was found to be 9.8 % (mistol) and 21 % (chañar), and the contribution of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was about 3.9 g PUFA/100 g and 11.5 g/100 g fruit, respectively. Lipids from mistol contained high amounts of total tocopherols (about 830 mg/kg). Fruits from both species showed relatively low protein contents (8 % mistol, 5 % chañar) with similar amino acids (AA) patterns. Essential AA represented about 28.3 % (mistol) and 31.5 % (chañar) of the total AA contents. The phenolic compounds from mistol fruits were dominated by flavonoids whereas those from chañar fruits comprised mainly phenolic acids, in particular hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives. Overall, findings from this study reinforce the value of mistol and chañar fruits as a source of nutritional and functional components.