ECUADORIAN EXOTIC FRUITS AS A SOURCE OF VITAMIN C

Introduction: The fruits are edible vegetable structures of plants cultivated or wild. They present sweet-acidulated flavors and varied aromas, so they are generally consumed in fresh. The fruits have nutritional properties due to the presence of macro and micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. In addition, these foods have compounds such as antioxidants, with beneficial metabolic properties for the consumer. Ecuador is a country with a wide variety of exotic fruits with particular organoleptic characteristics and which have slowly spread in local markets. Several fruits show nutritional and commercialization potential in international markets. Objetives: The aim of the present study was to characterize eight Ecuadorian exotic fruits giant granadilla (Passiflora quadrangularis), star fruit (Averrhoa carambola), bitter melon (Momordica charantia), banana passion fruit (Passiflora tripartita), red siriguela (Spondias purpurea), peach (Prunus Persian), yellow siriguela (Spondias purpurea) and cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana). Methods: The fruits were bought in different markets in the city of Quito-Ecuador and the commercial quality analysis was carried out (weight, equatorial and longitudinal diameter, soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, ash and humidity), determination of external and internal color of the fruit, and the content of vitamin C was quantified by RRLC in lyophilized material. Results: The results showed ranges of pH between 3 (banana passion fruit, red siriguela and yellow siriguela) to 5 (star fruit), soluble solids between 5 (star fruit and bitter melon) at 15 ° Brix (yellow siriguela), titratable acidity between 0.01% (red siriguela) to 0.1% (cape gooseberry), ash between 0.5% (red siriguela, yellow siriguela and star fruit) to 4% (peach), humidity between 75% (yellow siriguela) to 85% (star fruit and bitter melon) and vitamin C between the undetectable limit (peach to 121.6 mg / 100 g of dry matter (banana passion fruit). Conclusions: The results showed that Ecuadorian exotic fruits have commercial quality with high content of vitamin C, so they could be of interest as food with health and nutritional functions.