Lycopene content, antioxidant capacity and colour attributes of selected watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Mansfeld) cultivars grown in India.
The present investigation reports variability in lycopene, ascorbic acid, total phenolics, antioxidant capacity and colour attributes of 12 watermelon cultivars grown in India. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated using four in vitro assays, namely ferric reducing antioxidant power, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl. Among watermelon cultivars, significant differences (p < 0.05) were found with respect to lycopene content and antioxidant capacity. Lycopene content ranged from 03.46 to 8.00 mg/100 g fresh weight. Colour of watermelon flesh was described by an optimized colour index (CI). Cultivars 'PWM25-4', 'Arun', 'Kiran' and 'Kareena' were found to be the most promising ones with highest lycopene content, antioxidant capacity and CI. Results indicate that watermelon is a good source of dietary lycopene and there exists significant variation that can be exploited to produce high-quality cultivars.
Division of Post Harvest Technology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi 110012, India.
Shweta
S
Nagal
Charanjit
C
Kaur
Harshawardhan
H
Choudhary
Jashbir
J
Singh
Braj
B
Bhushan Singh
K N
KN
Singh
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D029773:Citrullus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D063427:Food Quality; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D055951:Functional Food / Q000032:analysis; D007194:India; D000077276:Lycopene; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D010858:Pigmentation; D013045:Species Specificity
D000975:Antioxidants; D010636:Phenols; D002338:Carotenoids; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D000077276:Lycopene