Determination of healthy natural antioxidants in selected muskmelon (Cucumis melo) cultivars

HENANE IMEN; RIAHI ANISSA; TLILI IMEN; HDIDER CHAFIK

doi:10.56093/ijas.v93i3.132133

Authors

HENANE IMEN University of Carthage, National Agricultural Research Institute of Tunisia, Rue Hedi Karray 1004 El Menzah, Tunisia
RIAHI ANISSA University of Carthage, National Agricultural Research Institute of Tunisia, Rue Hedi Karray 1004 El Menzah, Tunisia
TLILI IMEN University of Carthage, National Agricultural Research Institute of Tunisia, Rue Hedi Karray 1004 El Menzah, Tunisia
HDIDER CHAFIK University of Carthage, National Agricultural Research Institute of Tunisia, Rue Hedi Karray 1004 El Menzah, Tunisia

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v93i3.132133

Keywords:

Antioxidants composition, Correlation, Hydrophilic antioxidant activity, Lipophilic antioxidant activity

Abstract

Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) is a popular summer fruit consumed all over the world due to the combination of
refreshingly sweet taste, pleasant flavour and nutritional value. Melon fruit is characterized by germplasm variability
with superior quality. This study aimed to evaluate 5 promising local muskmelon cultivars (Maazoun, Galaoui,
Stambouli, Trabelsi, Asli) for some physicochemical characteristics, the content of different bioactive compounds
and the antioxidant activity. The experiments were conducted for two consecutive years 2018 and 2019 at the support station of the inter-professional vegetable group positioned in the North East of Tunisia. Significant differences were observed across the melon cultivars (P<0.05) for soluble solids (9–12°Brix), pH (5.5–6.6), carotenoid (7.5–59.5 mg/ kg FW), phenolic (400–1390 mg GAE/kg FW), flavonoid (251.3–390 mg RE/kg FW), vitamin C (138.2–193 mg/kg FW) contents, as well as hydrophilic (102.28–285.43 μM Trolox/100 g FW) and lipophilic (30–180.22 μM Trolox/100 g FW) antioxidant activities. Galaoui showed the highest levels of carotenoids, phenolics, flavonoids, vitamin C and antioxidant activities followed by Stambouli. Trabelsi cultivar also had a high level of flavonoids. The enhanced hydrophilic antioxidant activity in Galaoui was significantly correlated to phenolic content (r = 0.91). These findings proved that besides being refreshing summer fruit, muskmelon can be considered a promising healthy produce with a superior potential source of natural antioxidants.

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