Nutritional and Nutraceutical Components of Commercial Eggplant Types Grown in Sinaloa, Mexico

Abstract

The nutrimental composition and main nutraceutical components were determined in Chinese, Philippine, American, Hindu and Thai eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) types grown in Sinaloa, Mexico. Thai type showed the highest amount of protein (0.90%), crude (1.54%) and dietary (3.93%) fibre and the highest concentrations of total soluble phenolics (2049 mgCAE 100g^-1) and chlorogenic acid (1700 mg 100g^-1). Hindu type obtained the highest content of the minerals potassium (191.19 mg 100g^-1), calcium (59.63 mg 100g^-1), phosphorus (33.52 mg 100g^-1), magnesium (28.96 mg 100g^-1), manganese (0.44 mg 100g^-1), zinc (0.78 mg 100g^-1), in addition this eggplant type showed the highest levels of ascorbic acid (22 mg 100g^-1). Philippine type showed the highest concentration in anthocyanins (161.10 mgC₃GE 100g^-1) and the highest levels of radical scavenging activity in DPPH (92.50% of inhibition) and ORAC (538.90 μmolTE g^-1). Nutrient components with functional properties like biologically essential minerals, dietary fibre, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and soluble phenols were found in higher amounts in the five eggplant types analyzed, as compared with reports from other parts in the world available in the literature.