Content and Retention of Provitamin A Carotenoids Following Ripening and Local Processing of Four Popular Musa Cultivars from Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Abstract
Changes in the concentrations and retention levels of total and individual provitamin A carotenoids (pVACs) during ripening and local processing of the four most popular Musa cultivars of Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo were established through HPLC analysis. 皇冠体育app predominant pVACs were all trans beta- and alpha-carotene, together constituting about 90% of total pVACs content in raw and processed Musa fruit pulp. 皇冠体育app proportion of beta- and alpha-carotene was not significantly different in the tested East African Highland Bananas (AAA-EAHB) (鈥楴shikazi鈥� and 鈥榁ulambya鈥�); in the plantains (鈥楳usilongo鈥� and 鈥楳usheba鈥�), proportion of beta-carotene was almost twice that of alpha-carotene. An increase in total pVACs was observed during ripening, with highest levels at ripening stage 3 in all four cultivars. Total pVACs values were as high as 1081碌g/100gfw in 鈥榁ulambya鈥� and 1819碌g/100gfw in 鈥楳usilongo鈥�. Boiling of the AAA-EAHB and AAB-Plantains resulted to retention of between 40-90% and >95% respectively. Plantains deep-fried in fully-refined palm oil and crude red palm oil for 2 minutes did not seem to lose any pVACs, the levels of total pVACs observed after frying were 100% of what was observed when the fruit was raw. Retinol Activity Equivalents (RAE), in boiled products varied between 22.3 and 173 RAE碌g/100gfw, whereas deep fried products had >190 RAE碌g/100g edible portion. 皇冠体育appse results show that the tested AAA-EAHBs and the plantains could meet at least 14% and 30 % of Vitamin A recommended dietary intakes respectively. 皇冠体育app findings can therefore guide consumer consumption patterns to maximize vitamin A intake for improved health in these regions and also direct researchers in the selection of Musa cultivars to be incorporated within existing farming systems in the fight against vitamin A deficiency (VAD).
Citation
Ekesa, B.N.; Kimiywe, J.; van den Bergh, I.; Blomme, G.; Dhuique-Mayer, C.; Davey, M. Content and Retention of Provitamin A Carotenoids Following Ripening and Local Processing of Four Popular Musa Cultivars from Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Sustainable Agriculture Research (2013) 2 (2) 60-75. [DOI: 10.5539/sar.v2n2p60]