Evaluation of phytochemicals and antioxidant properties in three varieties of Passiflora edulis L.

The physical, nutritional, antinutrional, antioxidant and phytochemical characteristics of three taxa of Passion fruit, Passiflora edulis L. viz., Passiflora edulis var. flavicarpa, Passiflora edulis cv. panamared and Passiflora edulis var. edulis was studied. Nutritional factors such as carbohydrates, riboflavin, vitamin C and lipids were found to be high in P. edulis cv. panamared and proteins, reducing sugar, thiamine, niacin and carotenes were high in P. edulis var. flavicarpa. Further, all the antinutritional factors were found to be lower in P. edulis.cv. panamared. The phytochemical studies by GC-MS analysis of methanolic extract of fruit juice of P. edulis varieties showed a total of 11 compounds. The antioxidant studies carried out using DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1picrylhydrazyl) and FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power) assays, revealed high antioxidant activity in P. edulis cv. panamared followed by P. edulis var. flavicarpa. The results of the study indicated P. edulis cv. panamared as a superior taxa as compared to P. edulis var. edulis and var. flavicarpa