Technical paper Main composition of Physalis (Physalis pubescens L.) fruit juice from Egypt 1,2 2 2 2 Aly F. El SHEIKHA *, Georges PIOMBO , Thierry GOLI , Didier MONTET 1 Minufiya Univ., Fac. Agric., Main composition of Physalis (Physalis pubescens L.) fruit juice from Egypt. Dep. Food Sci. Technol., Abstract — Introduction. Physalis has been known for a long time in Egypt. Among unexploited 32511 Shibin El Kom, tropical fruits, Physalis is a very promising fruit. Recently, the economic importance of Physalis has Minufiya Gov., Egypt, risen, due to its high acceptance for local consumption, achieving great success in the African, Latin [email protected] American and European markets. One of the challenges of recent years has been to participate in the development of Physalis as a commercial crop of economic utility. In order to understand the nutra- 2 CIRAD, Persyst, UMR ceutical and medicinal characteristics of Physalis fruits cultivated in Egypt, the biochemical compo- QUALISUD, TA B-95 / 16, sition of the raw Physalis pubescens juice was determined. Materials and methods. Whole fresh fruits 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, of Physalis pubescens from Egypt were preserved at – 20 °C for the duration of the experiment. The France juice was extracted from Physalis fruits by using a fruit pulper then filtered on cheesecloth to separate seeds and skins. Contents of oil, fatty acids, proteins, amino acids, sugars and minerals of the juice were analyzed, and were compared and discussed in relation to the biochemical composition of other fruits and vegetable oils. Results. Yield of the juice was high (64%) and it is a rich source of minerals such as potassium (11.32 g·100 g–1 dm), phosphorus (5.55 g·100 g–1 dm), zinc (0.02 g·100 g–1 dm) and boron (0.01 g·100 g–1 dm), polyphenols (76.6 mg·100 mL–1) and carotenoids (70 µg·mL–1). It contained good amounts of vitamin C (38.77 mg·100 mL–1) and it could be a good potential source of essential amino acids such as isoleucine, valine and tryptophan [(4.2, 3.9 and 3.9) g·100 g–1 protein], whose amounts were higher than those recommended by the FAO / WHO / UNU. Additionally, it contains a low amount of oil (1.1 g·100 g–1 dm). Conclusion. Physalis juice should attract great inte- rest because of its composition. Its potential nutraceutical quality could participate in the development of Physalis as a commercial crop. Certain molecules such as antimicrobial molecules and bioactive withanolides, which have the famous ethnomedical and medical effects of Physalis juice, still have to be studied. Egypt / Physalis pubescens / fruits / proximate composition / mineral content / protein content / lipid content / carotenoids / ascorbic acid / polyphenols Composition principale de jus de fruits de Physalis (Physalis pubescens L.) en provenance d'Égypte. Résumé — Introduction. Le Physalis (cerise de terre) est connu depuis longtemps en Egypte. C’est un fruit très prometteur parmi l’ensemble des fruits tropicaux sous-exploités. Récemment, l'importance économique du Physalis a augmenté en raison de sa bonne acceptation dans la consommation locale et de son grand succès en Afrique, Amérique latine et sur les marchés européens. L'un des défis de ces dernières années a été de placer le Physalis au rang de culture commerciale d'utilité économique. Afin de comprendre les caractéristiques nutraceutiques et médicales des fruits de Physalis cultivés en Egypte, nous avons étudié la composition biochimique du jus brut des fruits de P. pubescens. Matériel et méthodes. Des fruits frais entiers de P. pubescens d'Egypte ont été conservés à –20 °C pendant la durée de l'expérimentation. Le jus a été extrait à l’aide d’un dépulpeur de fruits, puis il a été filtré sur gaze pour séparer graines et peaux. Les teneurs en huile, acides gras, protéines, acides aminés, sucres et minéraux des jus ont été évaluées, comparées et discutées en relation avec la composition * Correspondence and reprints biochimique d’autres fruits et huiles végétales. Résultats. Le rendement en jus des fruits de P. pubes- cens a été élevé (64 %) ; il est riche en minéraux comme le potassium (11,32 g·100 g–1 ms), le phos- phore (5,55 g·100 g–1 ms), le zinc (0,02 g·100 g–1 ms) et le bore (0,01 g·100 g–1 ms), les polyphénols (76,6 mg·100 mL–1) et les caroténoïdes (70 µg·mL–1). Il contient de bonnes quantités de vitamine C (38,77 mg·100 mL–1) et il pourrait être une source potentielle d'acides aminés essentiels tels que l'iso- leucine, la valine et le tryptophane [(4,2, 3,9 et 3,9) g·100 g–1 de protéines] dont les teneurs se révèlent plus élevées que celles recommandées par le groupe FAO / OMS / UNU. En outre, il contient une faible quantité d'huile (1,1 g·100 g–1 ms). Conclusion. Le jus des fruits de Physalis devrait capter un Fruits, 2010, vol. 65, p. 255–265 grand intérêt du fait de sa composition. Ses qualités nutraceutiques potentielles pourraient contribuer © 2010 Cirad/EDP Sciences à classer le Physalis au rang de culture commerciale. Certaines molécules telles que des molécules antimicrobiennes et des withanolides bioactives qui ont des effets ethnomédicaux et médicaux connus All rights reserved devront encore être étudiés dans le jus de Physalis. DOI: 10.1051/fruits/2010021 www.fruits-journal.org Égypte / Physalis pubescens / fruits / composition globale / teneur en éléments minéraux / teneur en protéines / teneur en lipides / caroténoïde / acide ascorbique / RESUMEN ESPAÑOL, p. 265 polyphénol Fruits, vol. 65 (4) 255 Article published by EDP Sciences and available at http://www.fruits-journal.org or http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/fruits/2010021 A.F. El Sheikha et al. tangy, resembling a Chinese lantern [4]. It is fairly adaptable to a wide variety of soils, light (sandy), loamy and clay, and requires well-drained soil. It can grow in semi-shade or no shade, and dry or moist soil. So, Phys- alis can be sown in arid environmental con- ditions and people may be encouraged to propagate it in new reclaimed lands, espe- cially the desert regions1. A single plant may yield up to (0.5 to 1.1) kg of fruits and care- fully tended plants can provide high pro- duction (12 t·ha–1); the total production of Egypt rose to 1000 t in 2006 [5]. Physalis is included in the priority list of many governments’ horticulture and fruit export plans. It is relatively unknown in importing markets and remains an exotic fruit. It is exported from several countries including Colombia, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Madagascar, South Africa and South- east Asia, but Colombia stands out as one of the largest producers, consumers and Figure 1. 1. Introduction exporters. Physalis occupies the second Fruit of Physalis pubescens L. position in the priority list of 15 exportable (Photo A. El Sheikha). Physalis has been known in Egypt since the fruits; exports of this crop in 2004 were XVIe century under the name of its varieties worth 14 M $US2. ‘Alkékenge’ (derivative of Arabic Al-kâkang), Many medicinal properties have been ‘Harankish’, ‘Halawyat’ and ‘El-Set El-Mesti- attributed to Physalis as a whole plant, hya’. Among unexploited tropical fruits, including antipyretic, depurative, diuretic, Physalis is a very promising fruit. Recently, pectoral and vermifuge. The plants were the economic importance of Physalis has formerly highly prized by Arab physicians risen, due to its high acceptance for local as a medical plant for treating kidney dis- consumption, achieving great success in the African, Latin American and European mar- eases (as it purportedly disintegrated kidney kets [1, 2]. Physalis (Physalis pubescens L.) stones) and urinary passage diseases. is an important genus of the nightshade fam- Recently, many studies have described the ily (Solanaceae). The genus Physalis, estab- therapeutic applications and the pharmaco- lished by Linnaeus in 1753, contains about logical activity of the Physalis species as 463 species but 100 species are well known anti-parasitic, anti-viral, anti-neoplasic, anti- and have more fanciful names such as husk oxidant and anti-leukemic [6, 7]. tomato, golden berry, ground cherry, pok Peoples in many parts of the world usu- pok, strawberry tomato, Cape gooseberry ally know Physalis in their countries, but the and pubescent ground cherry [3]. potential of this fruit for intensive cultivation Physalis is a low-growing, annual herba- 1 ceous shrub plant that can grow up to Randall R.P., Plant database, a comprehen- 0.45 m and has a shallow, fibrous root sys- sive database of plant information, Dep. tem. The part of the Physalis that can be Agric., W. Aust., available at: http:// used is composed of husk (6%) and berry www.hear.org/gcw/html/autogend/ data- (94%) (figure 1). The mature berry (1.25– sources.htm (access. Dec. 2001). 2 cm) has a golden yellow skin, partly or 2 The Bayer Crop Science Magazine for fully enclosed in a large papery husk Modern Agriculture, available at: http:// derived from the calyx with many minute www.bayercropscience.com (access. Sep. seeds in a juicy pulp, which is sweet and 2006). 256 Fruits, vol. 65 (4) Characterization of Physalis fruit juice has just begun to be explored. One of the on cheesecloth to separate seeds and skins challenges of recent years has been to par- and the fresh fruit juice was analyzed directly ticipate in the development of Physalis as a after production. commercial crop of economic utility. Previ- ous work on Physalis has focused on the general proximate composition of the fruit, 2.3. Physicochemical properties which was used as an excellent source of and chemical composition niacin [8], and determination of the geo- of Physalis fruit juice graphical origin of Physalis by biological fingerprint [9].