Effect of biometric characteristics on the yield of jambul pulp (Syzygium cumini L.) and analysis of its potential nutritional and functional

Abstract

Jambul (Syzygium cumini L.) is a tropical plant with fruits that have ideal chemical and nutraceutical characteristics for industrial exploitation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of fruit biometric variables on pulp yield, as well as to determine its physicochemical composition and functional properties. Fruits were acquired and analyzed for their biometric characteristics, pulp yield, physicochemical characterization, and quantification of bioactive compounds and antioxidant potential, with data evaluated using descriptive statistics, correlation coefficient (rS), and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). It was observed that the analyzed fruits had an average weight of 4.11 ± 1.06 g and an average horizontal and vertical diameter of 15.55 ± 2.77 mm and 27.37 ± 7.47 mm, respectively. Fruits had an average pulp yield of 65.15 ± 8.57 %, and this variable was positively and significantly influenced by horizontal diameter (DH) (rS = 0.391) and fruit weight (PW) (rS = 0.493). In addition, the pulp had a good nutritional composition and content of phenolic compounds (45.69 mg ± 6.09 EAG/100 g), total anthocyanins (305.59 ± 106.19 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside/100 g), and antioxidant activity (ABTS = 3,291 ± µmol Trolox equivalent/g and FRAP = 11,876.97 ± 619 µmol Fe2SO4/100 g), when compared to other commercial fruit species. It is concluded that the jambolão fruit has a high potential for industrial processing, however, for the full use of the fruit, better post-harvest management practices need to be adopted, ensuring that the fruit is used to its full potential.